Verdict: Brighton win
Best Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Two camps who are desperately seeking their own respective Premier League boosts on Tuesday night, West Ham will welcome Brighton to east London.
West Ham
Starting with the hosts, while Nuno Espírito Santo might have only arrived at the London Stadium a couple of months ago, the former Nottingham Forest boss has an almighty job on his hands. Suffering late heartbreak over the weekend as they fell to a 1-0 loss at home against Fulham, the Hammers find themselves sat five points adrift of top-flight safety and widely regarded as a standout relegation contender. Along with losing each of their previous three consecutive Premier League appearances by an aggregate score of 7-2, West Ham have also put just three points on the board from any of their last seven top-flight battles. With the pressure on Santo’s shoulders starting to reach a boiling point, Tuesday’s hosts are bracing themselves for what is a must-win showdown in east London.
West Ham Team News
Both away featuring at this month’s AFCON, West Ham will once again be without the duo of El Hadji Malick Diouf and former Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Likewise, set to complete a January switch to Italian giants AC Milan, Niclas Fullkrug will not feature here.
Forced to settle for a spot on the bench against Fulham over the weekend, former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson should be handed a full recall. Despite enduring late heartbreak during Saturday’s 1-0 loss at the London Stadium, academy graduate Ollie Scarles will keep his spot at left-back.
Brighton
As for the visitors, eventually falling short last season in the race to book another famous European adventure, Brighton were desperate to go one-step further this time around. However, last seen over the weekend falling to a 2-1 loss away at leading title contenders Arsenal, Fabian Hurzeler’s side are searching for a much-welcomed Premier League boost. Despite registering 10 points from their four appearances on either side of November’s international break, the Seagulls have come crashing back down to earth over the past month. However, smelling a golden opportunity here, Brighton will be excited by a dominant record against the relegation scrappers. Despite settling for a 1-1 stalemate when they last welcomed West Ham to the Amex for their reverse Premier League showdown earlier in the month, they have suffered just a sole defeat against the Hammers since way back in 2012.
Brighton Team News
Away with Cameroon at this month’s AFCON, Brighton will once again be without Carlos Baleba on Tuesday night. Likewise, all still dealing with respective knee injuries, the trio of Adam Webster, Solly March and Greek youngster Stefanos Tzimas remain on the sidelines.
Making a speedy return and getting a few minutes under his belt away at Arsenal over the weekend, Danny Welbeck could be handed a full recall and lead the line in east London. Returning from illness on Saturday, defensive talisman Jan Paul van Hecke will start at the heart of Brighton’s defence.
West Ham vs Brighton Key Factors to Consider
- When West Ham and Brighton met for their reverse Premier League showdown on December 7th, Tuesday’s opponents played out a 1-1 stalemate at the Amex.
- Brighton have suffered just a single defeat against the Hammers since way back in 2012.
- West Ham have lost all of their previous three Premier League appearances by an aggregate score of 7-2.
- Brighton have registered just two points from their last five showdowns against top-flight opposition.
- The Seagulls have recorded just a sole Premier League win away from the Amex since the end of September.
Conclusion
Looking to find a route back into the top-half of the table, Brighton should be smelling a golden opportunity to claim a much-welcomed Premier League boost here. Despite registering just a single win away from the Amex since the end of September, Tuesday’s guests will meet a West Ham squad who find themselves at the heart of a public crisis. Suffering just a single defeat against the Hammers since way back in 2012, Hurzeler’s side will be excited by a trip to east London in midweek.
Verdict: Brighton win
Best Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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