The four factors that make Brighton genuine Premier League title contenders

WhenFabian Hurzelerwas asked about Brighton's possible participation in the title race, he tended to invoke Getafe in his answer. And if a club from Madrid are not exactly an opponent in the Premier League, this was Hurzeler's version of an old cliché.

He is taking it one game at a time, andBrighton & Hove Albion's next game is against Getafe in theEuropa Conference League. More pertinently, though, their last one was away atManchester City.

Brighton's last week has served as a barometer of their status against the established powers. They played well against Liverpool at Anfield, but lost 2-0.

They twice led against City in the Carabao Cup, but went out on penalties. They beat them in the Premier League.

For a club with plenty of high-profile scalps in recent years, the Etihad Stadium was the final frontier. They had won everywhere else of note.

Now Hurzeler could maintain the pretence that the only thing on his mind was Getafe. Eleven years ago, as Leicester City were an unexpected presence near the top of the table, Claudio Ranieri used to talk about targeting 40 points, even when it was clear Leicester would reach the usual barrier for safety with months to spare.

Now Brighton are already halfway to the other mythical number, 38. Ranieri's rhetoric was such that he could switch to meaningless but entertaining catchphrases; Hurzeler's is less likely to spend spring saying "dilly ding, dilly dong".

But the subject of a title tilt could become inescapable if Brighton extend their superb start. That seems possible: they have played the rest of the current top five and do not face any again until the return game with City in January.

They don't see Chelsea again until April, Liverpool or Arsenal until the final two games. Leicester showed that an unlikely title triumph can be pulled off(PA Wire) Is there a title decider there?