West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion will aim to return to winning ways when they clash at the London Stadium on Saturday.
The 2024/25 Premier League season is resuming this weekend with Gameweek 17. The latest round of fixtures will start with the game between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park before the action continues with three simultaneous matches, including West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion at the London Stadium.
West Ham United enjoyed a solid summer transfer window, completing eye-catching signings like Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, and Jean-Clair Todibo. In addition, they replace David Moyes with Julen Lopetegui to herald a new era at the London Stadium. However, things have gone pear-shaped quickly, with the East London outfit blowing hot and cold throughout this term.
However, things have improved slightly in recent weeks, and avoiding a loss will mean the Hammers will have gone three games without a defeat for the first time this season. On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion have started unravelling in their last few outings. The Seagulls were hot off the blocks this season, with Fabian Hurzeler stamping his authority soon after arriving at the Amex Stadium.
However, the visitors have failed to win their last four Premier League games, with the run of results dropping them to ninth in the Premier League standings. However, with other teams also blowing hot and cold, Brighton & Hove Albion are only four points behind the high-flying Nottingham Forest.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a goalless draw, with West Ham successfully keeping Brighton at bay, even though the away side dominated the proceedings. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
West Ham United
Julen Lopetegui has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The West Ham United manager will be bereft of the services of at least two first-team players vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Carlos Soler is the latest absentee, as he will serve a suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the 2024/25 Premier League season. The Spaniard has joined Michail Antonio on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Lopetegui has been sweating over the fitness of Jean-Clair Todibo (groin). However, Emerson Palmieri is available after missing the last game through a ban.
Lukasz Fabianski will take his spot between the sticks, with West Ham United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The backline should feature Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman, and Emerson Palmieri.
As for the midfield unit, Edson Alvarez should pair up with Tomas Soucek in the double pivot. Lucas Paqueta will reprise the no. 10 role, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus being the two wide attackers. Finally, Niclas Fullkrug will lead the line for West Ham against Brighton this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Fullkrug
Brighton & Hove Albion
Like his counterpart in the West Ham United dugout, Fabian Hurzeler has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to the London Stadium. The Brighton & Hove Albion manager might be without only five first-team players on Saturday.
Joel Veltman is fit after recovering from a muscular injury. In addition, Adam Webster (hamstring) and Matt O’Riley (knock) should be available after resuming training. Furthermore, Ferdi Kadioglu (ankle), Jack Hinshelwood (knee), and Solly March (knee) should return soon. However, James Milner (thigh) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Bart Verbruggen will be the automatic pick between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs West Ham United on Saturday. The backline should feature Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, and Pervis Estupinan.
As for the midfield unit, Carlos Baleba and Matt O’Riley should pair up in the double pivot, while Georginio Rutter will likely reprise the no. 10 role. Finally, Joao Pedro will spearhead the Brighton attack against West Ham, with Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, O’Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro
Key Stats
West Ham United’s only victory in 14 previous Premier League games vs Brighton & Hove Albion was a 3-1 away win last season (D7 L6). The Seagulls are unbeaten in all seven visits to take on the Hammers in the Premier League, winning two and drawing five.
West Ham United can remain unbeaten in three successive league games for the first time this season if they do not lose on Saturday. The Hammers have earned 10 points from their past five home league matches, as many as they had managed in their previous 11.
Brighton & Hove Albion have gone four Premier League matches without a win (D2 L2), with only Southampton currently on a longer run without a victory.
West Ham United have conceded 73 top-flight goals in 2024, their most in a calendar year since shipping the same amount in 1976.
Brighton & Hove Albion are one of only three teams, along with Chelsea and Liverpool, to have scored in all their away league games thus far this season.
Player to Watch
Joao Pedro
Embed from Getty Images
Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and the resurgent Niclas Fullkrug were among the candidates for this season. However, we have picked Joao Pedro as our Player to Watch for the game between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The Brazilian international was excellent in his early outings this season, scoring four times in his first six Premier League games. However, Joao Pedro has gone four top-flight matches without a goal, coinciding with Brighton’s poor run. So, he must step up for the away side to salvage something from Saturday’s game, especially with Danny Welbeck out.
Prediction
West Ham United 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
West Ham United’s improving away form and Brighton’s wobbly run suggest Julen Loptegeui can clinch a job-saving result this weekend amid growing uncertainties surrounding his future at the London Stadium. However, one should take the Seagulls lightly at their peril.
Nevertheless, the resurgent Niclas Fullkrug should rise to the occasion again, exploiting the weaknesses in the away side’s backline. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion have failed to win in five of their six games this season against teams that currently occupy the bottom six (D4 L1).
While Fabian Hurzeler’s men should have the quality to ensure they do not lose, their susceptible backline might rob them of a victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between West Ham and Brighton, with the result not helping either team.