Verdict: Brighton win
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Luckster
Seeking an immediate Premier League response on Sunday afternoon, Brighton will welcome West Ham to the Amex.
Brighton
Starting with the hosts, suffering a sensational collapse at home against Aston Villa earlier in the week as they eventually fell to a 4-3 loss, Brighton will know the importance of claiming an immediate response here. Nevertheless, with their sights once again set to booking another famous European adventure, Fabian Hurzeler’s men have rightfully received plenty of plaudits this season. Marking their return from November’s international break with a 2-1 win against Brentford, the Seagulls have lost just a pair of their previous 10 consecutive Premier League appearances. Getting this weekend’s fixtures underway sat within touching distance of finding a route into the Champions League spots, Brighton should also be excited by their recent clinical performances in the final third. Including a 2-0 victory away at Nottingham Forest last weekend, Hurzeler’s side have notched at least a pair of goals in six of their previous seven Premier League showdowns.
Brighton Team News
Both still dealing with respective long-term knee injuries, Brighton will be unable to call upon the duo of Solly March and Adam Webster this weekend. Likewise, not featuring since the end of September, Kaoru Mitoma remains on the sidelines with an ankle issue.
Bagging what turned out to be a pair of consolation strikes against Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Jan Paul van Hecke will partner Lewis Dunk at the back. Picking up a first-half knock at the Amex in midweek, Brighton are expected to be without Greek starlet Stefanos Tzimas.
West Ham
As for the visitors, mounting a late comeback at Old Trafford earlier in the week as they eventually snatched a 1-1 draw away at Manchester United, West Ham should take plenty of positives away from a plucky performance outside the capital. However, opening this weekend’s fixtures sat in the drop zone, Nuno Espírito Santo is more than aware that he has a tremendous job on his hands at the London Stadium. Signing off November with a routine 2-0 loss at home against Liverpool, the Hammers have drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity. Pencilled in as a landslide underdog here, West Ham have also gained an unwanted reputation for their issues on the road. Including a 2-1 defeat away at fellow relegation scrapers Leeds on October 24th, Santo’s side have mustered just a sole win from any of their first eight showdowns away from the London Stadium across all competitions.
West Ham Team News
Yet to feature since returning from November’s International break, West Ham are once again sweating over the fitness of former Leeds star Crysencio Summerville. However, serving a one-match suspension at Old Trafford earlier in the week, Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta will return to Santo’s travelling squad.
While England international Jarrod Bowen might have failed to notch a Premier League strike since the end of September, West Ham’s skipper will play a leading role in attack. Bagging a late equaliser on Thursday night, summer recruit Soungoutou Magassa will start in the middle of the park.
Brighton vs West Ham Key Factors to Consider
- When Brighton and West Ham last met at the Amex back on April 26th, the Seagulls collected a 3-2 victory on home soil.
- Despite suffering a collapse against Aston Villa in midweek, Brighton have lost just a pair of their previous 10 Premier League appearances.
- West Ham have recorded just a single victory from any of their first eight away fixtures across all competitions.
- Brighton have registered at least a pair of goals in six of their previous seven Premier League showdowns.
- Shipping 28 Premier League goals so far this season, only fellow strugglers Wolves (29) have conceded more top-flight strikes.
Conclusion
Suffering a major collapse against Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Brighton will be desperately searching for an immediate response here. Sat within touching distance of finding a route into the Champions League spots, the Seagulls should also be excited by a largely dominant record against Sunday’s guests. Landing an action-packed 3-2 victory when they last welcomed West Ham to the Amex for a Premier League showdown back on April 26th, we are expecting a similar outcome from the south coast this weekend.
Verdict: Brighton win
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Luckster
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