‘Handing in his resignation’ – Brighton fans explode at Fabian Hurzeler after ‘dreadful’ scenes at Liverpool
Brighton fans called for the dismissal of Fabian Hurzeler after Saturday’s dismal FA Cup defeat to Liverpool.
The Seagulls were smashed 3-0 at Anfield, with Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah getting the goals for the home side.
Hurzeler‘s side have now gone three consecutive defeats without even scoring, and are without a win in any of their previous six games.
The German is coming under mounting pressure at the American Express Stadium, and now leads the bookies’ race to be sacked next in the Premier League.
Brighton are known to be patient with managers, but should they be dragged into a relegation fight, decision-makers will be forced into action.
Brighton fans demand Fabian Hurzeler sacking
Saturday’s score-line certainly did not tell the full story at Anfield, though Liverpool deserved to go through on the balance of chances.
Brighton took 17 shots at Alisson’s goal and produced 1.22 expected goals, but could not find a way past the Brazilian.
Such is the way it often goes when a team is stuck in a rut like the Seagulls are at the moment.
| Liverpool | Match stats | Brighton |
| 47% | Possession | 53% |
| 13 | Shots | 17 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 3 |
| 1.82 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.22 |
| 5 | Corners | 6 |
Hurzeler’s side have not played particularly poorly of late, yet they cannot seem to put the ball in the net, and the German’s job is becoming increasingly unstable with each passing result.
The 32-year-old has already lost much of the fanbase, and they showed their anger again on Saturday after a further disappointing result.
“Fabian Hurzeler is not good enough and never will be,” claimed one fan on social media. “Time for a change.”
Another said: “Same old words and same end result. Muddled starting 11, muddled subs, muddled thinking. Dreadful Hurzeler.”
X user Kevin launched an impassioned plea to the Brighton board, and said: “What will it take for our board to finally realise Fabian is taking us one way and that is down to the championship.
“Relegation battle on the horizon now, out of the FA Cup with a whimper. Just do the honourable thing and get rid now!”
- Read more: Keith Hackett explains why Mohamed Salah’s penalty should have been disallowed vs Brighton
Hurzeler leads bookies’ sack race
One major bookmaker has named Hurzeler as the clear favourite to be sacked next in the Premier League, at 4/5.
Both Sean Dyche and Thomas Frank have been dismissed this week, with several other managers also facing fights for their future.
None is in a situation as pressing as the Brighton boss’s case, however, and the German may well be just one or two games away from the sack.
The Seagulls will take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium next week, before home clashes against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.