West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Date: 27/12/2020
K/O: 14:15
Venue: London Stadium
Referee: Simon Hooper
West Ham host Brighton on Sunday afternoon on the back of disappointing results last time out. The Hammers went down 3-0 to London rivals Chelsea last Monday, after the Seagulls were held to a point against bottom of the table Sheffield United.
Graham Potter’s Brighton side have been disappointing this season, and they sit just one point above the relegation zone. Their opponents on Sunday have been inconsistent so far this campaign, but have proved themselves to be a very capable Premier League outfit under David Moyes. The East Londoners haven’t lost at home since the opening day of the Premier League season. Brighton will have to be at their combative best if they are to leave the capital with all three points.
Interestingly, West Ham haven’t won once in their six league meetings against Brighton since the Seagulls arrived in the top flight in 2017. Three draws and three losses paint a dour picture for the Hammers, but Moyes will feel there won’t be a better opportunity than Sunday to end their winless run.
Team News
Since the injury to Artur Masuaku a couple of weeks ago, Moyes has returned to a 4-2-3-1 system. While Michail Antonio is back in training this week, it is unlikely that the injury prone striker will feature from the start on Sunday. Manuel Lanzini is also a doubt for the Irons.
Brighton will travel to the London Stadium without star full-back Tariq Lamptey. Danny Welbeck was rested against the Blades last time out, but his late equalising goal means he should return to the starting line-up. Potter has a strong squad to choose from, with competition for places along the front line and out wide. The likes of Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay should get the nod for Sunday. Mat Ryan will continue his absence, with the Aussie considering a move away from the Amex in January.
Predicted Starting XIs
West Ham: Fabianksi; Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Haller.
Brighton: Sanchez; White, Dunk, Webster; Veltman, Lallana, Bissouma, March; Trossard, Maupay, Welbeck.
Score Prediction: West Ham 2-1 Brighton
In what should be a close encounter in East London, the Hammers’ strong home form should see them home. With two excellent holding midfielders in Rice and Soucek, they will look to stifle Brighton’s attacking threat before unleashing their dangerous attacking quartet. Even Sebastien Haller is starting to look like the player West Ham fans thought they were signing when he first arrived last year.
