West Ham – Brighton & Hove Albion
Our West Ham – Brighton tip is: Double chance: X/Brighton and over 1.5 goals – 1.67 odds
- West Ham last won at home to Brighton in the PL in 1983
- West Ham have only won once in 18 direct PL duels
- Brighton have lost twice in their last six games
This weekend, West Ham United will face Brighton & Hove Albion at London Stadium in the Premier League, a clash between two teams that are currently in very different forms. While West Ham, with 19 points, are in 14th place in the table and have recently shown a mixed performance, Brighton, in ninth place with 24 points, are trying to live up to their role as favorites.
The Hammers are overshadowed by some devastating news off the pitch: striker Michail Antonio’s tragic car accident is likely to weigh heavily on the minds of both players and fans alike. Antonio, a key member of the offensive line, is out for an indefinite period, which does not make the task any easier for West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui.
On the other hand, Brighton have also suffered a number of setbacks in recent weeks. The most recent 1-3 defeat to Crystal Palace illustrates that Fabian Hürzeler’s team may be ambitious, but they are also vulnerable. In the past, the Seagulls have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks. Given the club’s recent history and their solid ninth place in the table, it remains to be seen whether they can find their way back to success against the Hammers.
All in all, the clash at London Stadium promises to be an exciting one, as it could be a game that points the way forward for both teams, with West Ham in particular hoping for a positive turnaround in this difficult phase. You can find out who will ultimately come out on top in our West Ham v Brighton tip.
West Ham v Brighton info
- Date & Time: 12/21/2024, 4:00 p.m.
- Venue: London Stadium (Olympic Stadium), London
- Competition: Premier League, Matchday 17
- TV broadcast/livestream: SKY
West Ham Form & Bilanz Check
West Ham United have shown inconsistent form in the current Premier League season, with both light and shadow. In their last five games, Julen Lopetegui’s team have won twice, but have also suffered the same number of defeats and drawn once. They recently drew 1-1 with Bournemouth, a tough game in which Lucas Paquetá scored the equalizer from the penalty spot. That game was preceded by a creditable 2-1 home win over Wolverhampton and a painful 3-1 loss at Leicester. The Hammers experienced their biggest disappointment with the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal, which showed the defense to be in alarming deficits.
West Ham currently sit in 14th place in the table, with 19 points from 16 games, and a goal difference of -8, indicating ongoing defensive problems. The vulnerability in defense is clearly visible, as the team concedes as many goals as they score in most games. In attack, Jarrod Bowen in particular has stood out, whose accurate shots are of great value. Nevertheless, there is often a lack of consistent offensive power that would be necessary to work their way up from the middle of the table.
Brighton, who are currently in poor form, as an opportunity
Overall, West Ham’s performance is characterized by insufficient consistency. Although the 2-0 away win against Newcastle was an unexpected joy, if the team does not stabilize its form soon, uncertainty remains as to how long it can survive in the league. Next up is Brighton, who also appear to be out of sorts, and this could be another chance to rectify the situation and get the boost they need. Otherwise, Lopetegui faces the task of realigning his team strategically and psychologically in order to fully exploit the team’s potential.
West Ham facts & analysis
- 14th place table
- Only won one of the last 14 duels against Brighton
- Last won at home in the PL against Brighton in 1983
Brighton Form & Record Check
Brighton are currently in a period of variable performance. In the last five Premier League games, the team of coach Fabian Hürzeler has only managed one win. In their last game, they lost 1-3 to Palace. Before that, the Seagulls fought hard to get a 2-2 draw against Leicester, which suggests that they are capable of competing on equal terms but often lack consistency. Another setback was the 3-1 defeat to Fulham, which showed that Brighton’s defense remains vulnerable to quick counterattacks.
Brighton’s form has been mixed. With a recent record of one win, two losses and two draws, the club currently sits in ninth place in the table with 24 points and a goal difference of one.
Brighton have the quality and often take the initiative in the game, but they lack the efficiency to consistently secure results. The statistics show that while Brighton are productive in attack and have scored in ten consecutive games, they also concede goals in most games, which is most likely due to their defensive line-up.
Weak second half
Particularly striking is the fact that Brighton fall behind more often in the second half of the game. A rethink of the tactical approach may be necessary to achieve more stability in the defensive half of the game. While victories against teams like Manchester City clearly underline the team’s potential, inconsistency in the league repeatedly leads to setbacks. The game against Bournemouth, which ended in a 2-1 away win, is an example where the team benefited from their strength, but these performances have not been consistently maintained.
Brighton will be challenged in the upcoming game against West Ham, especially as West Ham are hoping to recover after a turbulent period. The statistics suggest an exciting game in which Brighton will have to address their form issues and use their fighting spirit and tactical finesse to get the points again. It remains to be seen how the coaching staff will approach this challenge to improve their current form at a crucial stage of the season.
Brighton facts & analysis
- 9th place in the table
- Without a win in four games
- Bowen has been directly involved in 11 goals at home in 14 PL games
There could be changes to West Ham’s starting lineup in the upcoming Premier League game against Brighton, especially in offense. Coach Julen Lopetegui is likely to field a 4-1-4-1 formation, which was tried out against Bournemouth last time out.
The defense could remain unchanged, with Fabiański in goal and Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman and Wan-Bissaka in the back four. Defensively-minded Álvarez is expected to revert to the holding role of defensive midfielder to stabilize the backline, with Paquetá and Souček expected to start in the middle of the park, supported by Soler and Kudus on the wings. The attack could see a change due to Michail Antonio’s serious injury. Bowen could continue in the role of central striker due to his high finishing accuracy.
For the upcoming Premier League game against West Ham, Brighton could keep their unchanged formation in a 4-2-3-1, with coach Fabian Hürzeler not having any major injury concerns.
In defense, Dunk is expected to serve as the central anchor in the back four, flanked by Van Hecke and wing-backs Lamptey and Estupiñán. The midfield could again be dominated by young players Baleba and Ayari, who are known for their dynamism. Minteh and Mitoma are likely to start on the wings to challenge the opposing defenders with their speed, while Rutter acts as an offensive hub in the central offensive midfield. João Pedro is expected to take up the central offensive position and go on the hunt for goals as the sole striker.
West Ham – Brighton head-to-head & statistics
Brighton have done better in their last five meetings with West Ham. The Seagulls have won three of those games, while West Ham have only managed one victory. One game ended in a draw.
The last time the two teams met was on January 2, 2024, which ended in a goalless draw. Prior to that, on August 26, 2023, West Ham secured an away win with 3-1 in Brighton. In 2023, on March 4, Brighton dominated West Ham with a 4-0 home win. In August 2022, Brighton won 2-0 at London Stadium, following up an earlier 3-1 home win in May 2022.
The analysis shows that Brighton have been more clinical in front of goal in recent years, especially in the second halves, which earned them the series of wins and goals scored against West Ham. West Ham’s only superiority was their 3-1 win away from home, which provided a rare bright spot in their series of defeats.
Head to head (H2H)
