Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United

Amex Stadium forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking Premier League encounter between Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United.

With the top seven in the Premier League steering away from eighth place, five sides, including Brighton, are left to battle for the final European qualification spot. However, the Seagulls must bounce back from a dreadful five-game winless league streak (D2, L3) to maintain/overhaul a one-point deficit on eighth-placed Bournemouth. Manager Fabian Hurzeler must patch up Brighton’s defensive leaks to inspire resurgence, with his side conceding 2+ goals in their last five league outings. West Ham’s visit could be just what the doctor ordered for the home side, considering Brighton have only lost one of their previous 15 top-flight H2Hs (W6, D7), courtesy of a 3-1 defeat in this season’s reverse fixture. Moreover, the hosts had drawn a blank in back-to-back home games before a 2-2 draw against relegated Leicester City last time out.

On the other hand, coach Graham Potter returns to his old stomping ground as a foe, seeking redemption for his underwhelming tenure in London. West Ham head into proceedings winless in their last six league matches (D3, L3), including a 1-1 home draw against dead-last Southampton a week ago. That’s the Hammers’ longest winless run in the Premier League since January 2023, highlighting the depth of the crisis around the traveling camp. But there’s a recipe for success. Indeed, West Ham’s last four away league victories have come ‘to nil,’ underscoring the importance of keeping a clean sheet. Adding to this sentiment, West Ham are winless across their last 15 away league games when failing to register a shutout (D5, L10).