Liam Robert Bridcutt (born 8 May 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Blackpool. Born in England, he represented the Scotland national team. Bridcutt started his career with Chelsea, but did not make a league appearance for the London club. He was loaned to Yeovil Town, Watford and Stockport County, before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2010. He has since played for Sunderland, Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest. Club career Chelsea Born in Reading, Berkshire, Bridcutt rose through the youth system at Chelsea, and signed a professional contract in the summer of 2007. He signed on loan for Yeovil Town on 8 February 2008 and made his début against Walsall the following day. He then moved to Watford on loan on 27 November 2008, making his début for the club against Doncaster Rovers on 29 November 2008. On 14 August 2009, Bridcutt moved to Stockport County on loan until January 2010 and was sent off on his début in the 4–2 win at Brighton & Hove Albion. He scored his first professional goal whilst at Stockport during a Football League Trophy game against Port Vale. Brighton & Hove Albion On 28 August 2010, Bridcutt signed a five-month contract with League One side Brighton & Hove Albion. On 5 November 2010, he signed a contract extension until the end of the season after impressing Gus Poyet especially against Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough United. Bridcutt scored his first goal in Albion colours in stoppage time of their 4–3 win over Carlisle United. He followed this up with one of the goals in the 4–3 victory against Dagenham & Redbridge which led to Brighton's promotion to the Championship. Bridcutt's consistent performances in the 2011–12 Championship campaign earned him Brighton's Player of the Season award. Bridcutt's performances in the following 2012–13 Championship campaign earned him his second successive Player of the Season award, becoming the first Brighton player to achieve back-to-back Player of the Season awards since Bobby Zamora. Sunderland On 30 January 2014, after weeks of speculation and a transfer request which was subsequently rejected by Brighton, Bridcutt signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Sunderland, reuniting him with former Brighton head coach Gus Poyet. Bridcutt signed for an undisclosed fee, believed to be between £3 million and £4 million, and made his Sunderland début in the Tyne–Wear derby in a 3–0 victory over Newcastle United at St