Sussex

James Milner has just signed a new deal at Brighton and I can say the man is an absolute machine and one at the highest order.

That is why he is just 20 games away from breaking Gareth Barry's Premier League record of 653.

From 16 years old, his dedication to the job has been insane. That includes his diet and the way he goes about himself.

He is an athlete and a top-end one. Just incredible.

You would be shocked how good he is in pre-season. He will still be smashing all the records and be right at the top of interval and long-distance training. It is only the quicker stuff where he will begin to struggle.

I cannot tell you how fit he is and long term he has the right mentality to be a coach.

He is very balanced and almost obsessive in what he does. If he could do that in coaching then he would be very good!

He is a role model, so the way he will help in the Brighton dressing room with the younger players is huge. They will all listen to him because he has an aura about him.

When he is physically doing what he is doing, they will all be thinking: "How is he doing this." And that will only earn more respect too.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Image source, BBC Sport

Wolves are in the news this week for their pursuit of a vote on the scrapping of VAR.

Their wishes drew further scrutiny on Wednesday when Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon found himself in the middle of a contentious call before offering a strong view on the technology after his side went down at Manchester United.

"Modified" is the word when we are talking about VAR going to a vote.

We are still getting to grips with it, but we have seen some good come from it. There have been some instances of indifferent decisions because calls are getting too many looks at them from so many angles.

They still do not know what is a good tackle and what is not. I think they need help from some former players, who have been in that situation and understand what the differences are in those challenges.

We keep talking about different angles and that is not going to go away because with VAR or without it, on certain challenges we would still disagree. You could have two current players in a room and they still would not agree.

It is Wolves' opinion on VAR and if they feel it is not working for them, then you can understand why they are saying to have a go without it again.

Molineux boss Gary O'Neil has been very frustrated, but he has also been balanced and tried to stay quiet. Now he does not want to stay quiet because he feels it does not benefit them and decisions are not going their way.

Overall, we have seen good things from VAR, even if it does bring with it a delay and a wait.

It would be a shame now for it to all go away when we have all the technology in place.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Here are the key facts and figures before Brighton host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

• Brighton have won their past four Premier League games against Manchester United. The last side to beat the Red Devils in five consecutive league games was Norwich City between 1988 and 1990.

• United have lost four of their six Premier League away games against Brighton (67%) - their highest loss rate away against any side in the competition.

• Brighton have lost their final game in four of their six Premier League campaigns - the exceptions being a 2-1 win at Burnley (2019-20) and a 3-1 home win over West Ham (2021-22).

• Manchester United have lost their final league game in two of the past five seasons, as many times as they had in the previous 33 campaigns (W23 D8).

We asked for your views on Thursday's Premier League game between Brighton and Chelsea.

Here are some of your responses

Brighton fans

Keith: We will be back next season. Some good transfers in the summer and we will be OK.

Mark: The seagulls are really back on form. The Aston Villa, Newcastle and Chelsea games were all excellent football and showing of a deserved place at 10th. Pedro and Adringa have been outstanding!

Richard: Poor season continues. Play like this and the Championship beckons.

Chelsea fans

Matthew: Great win that puts us into sixth place. Great goal from Palmer and it is also great to see Nkunku on the scoresheet (and his celebration, of course), but we did make it nervy before full-time. One more game left which could see us confirm our place in Europe. I am really proud of the team for the way they have performed in the last five games.

Paul: I thought Chelsea were excellent against a very difficult team. We dominated the game especially in midfield and Cole Palmer was his usual incredible self. He is definitely the steal of the season and I hope there is no buy-back clause. But the one real low point was Reece James. Really James - you are better than that. You are one of our own.

Freddie: Ending the season looking like a proper team and everyone working fluidly together. It was great to see Nkunku back on the pitch and scoring too. Let's see the season out and trim the squad over summer to get back into Europe where we belong.

Fossie: Generally a good performance. Pochettino has got them playing well, especially against teams below us in the league. Up to sixth with Europe on the horizon and I now think Poch should see out the next year of his contract. The blight on the performance was Reece James. He is a liability and if we need to sell someone to meet Financial Fair Play rules, it is him we should sell.

Aaron: Happy with a strong finish to the season but some inconsistencies remain. We seem to be maturing with game management, especially given the James red card. I feel optimistic of a top four-finish next season if we sign a top centre-back and hold on to Gallagher.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton have recorded just three wins since the start of March and have now tasted victory in just one of their past nine matches.

With 10 minutes remaining against Chelsea a point seemed out of the question.

But the Seagulls finished strongly with Simon Adingra striking the inside of the post moments before Danny Welbeck's late consolation goal.

"We lost against a top team with great players," Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi told BBC Match of the Day.

"We didn't play well in the first 20 minutes but after that we played a good game."

Things may have been very different if the hosts had taken their chances before Chelsea's second.

They also had a penalty shout early in the second half when Malo Gusto appeared to catch Adingra, but referee Michael Salisbury waved play on.

Brighton ultimately fell to a seventh defeat in nine matches but remain in 10th place.

The Seagulls end their season at home to Manchester United on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi to Sky Sports: "I think we played a very good second half and the second part of the first half as well. We know the qualities of Chelsea.

"I think we gave our best and we have another game to reach the top 10 position.

"It has been a very tough season and the fans have understood everything.

"We have competed in a good way but have lost too many points at home, especially in the first part of the season and we have paid for that.

"I think it was a clear penalty today. But the problem is not VAR, the problem is the level of the referees. Today I did not like the performance of the referee.

"But I make more mistakes than the referee.

"I am happy for this season but I am sorry because I am disappointed and wished we would compete in a different way. Next season we can be a stronger squad and team."