Monday’s clash could be a pivotal moment in the race for Europe. West Ham, eyeing fourth, face a Brighton side desperate to close the gap. Can Moyes’ men take a decisive step towards their goal, or will De Zerbi’s tactics derail their Champions League dreams?
West Ham vs Brighton Head to Head
West Ham hold a narrow edge in this historic rivalry, boasting 21 wins from the past 60 clashes compared to Brighton’s 20. However, the Seagulls have flown high in recent away encounters, remaining undefeated in their last six visits to West Ham, including two victories. The Hammers, though strong at home, will need to break this trend if they want to extend their recent winning streak of seven home games across all competitions. Brighton, however, arrive with a stuttering away form, winless in their last three and struggling to translate their home prowess to the road.
Form Guide
Riding the crest of a December surge, West Ham find themselves comfortably nestled in the coveted top six after silencing their north London rivals at the Emirates with a resounding 2-0 victory. Goals from the Czech midfield maestro Tomas Soucek and the towering Konstantinos Mavropanos proved the difference, and the Hammers now dream of launching themselves into an even more ambitious second half of the season.
However, their path to continued glory is far from clear. Brighton, fueled by the exhilarating 4-2 thrashing of Tottenham, arrive at the London Stadium buzzing with their own brand of confidence. With only one defeat in their last five league outings, the Seagulls pose a formidable obstacle on West Ham’s path to further ascension. This tantalizing clash promises not just fierce London bragging rights, but a potentially pivotal turning point in both teams’ respective aspirations.
West Ham vs Brighton Team News
West Ham convincingly defeated title-chasing Arsenal, even in the absence of Lucas Paqueta for most of the game. The Brazilian exited in the 33rd minute due to an apparent injury sustained during warm-up, despite being riskily included in the starting eleven.
Manager Moyes confirmed Paqueta’s knee injury and awaits scan results to determine its severity. Paqueta joins Michail Antonio and Kurt Zouma as the trio nursing similar problems, with Antonio having a chance of making a return.
Nayef Aguerd’s illness puts his availability in doubt, with him and Mohammed Kudus set to join the African Cup of Nations. However, the timing of their departure remains uncertain.
Brighton, dealing with a string of injuries, will notably miss Lewis Dunk due to his suspension from receiving his fifth booking against Tottenham. He joins a lengthy list of sidelined players, including Joel Veltman, Ansu Fati, Julio Enciso, Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Solly March, Adam Webster, and Tariq Lamptey. Additionally, Igor and Facundo Buonanotte sustained injuries in the midweek fixture.
De Zerbi faces no option but to fast-track Estupinan’s return to the starting lineup after the player’s impactful goal off the bench against Spurs. Moreover, Adam Lallana is expected to capitalize on Buonanotte’s injury concerns for potential game time.
Prediction
West Ham’s strong home form is a major factor. They’ve won all but one of their last seven home games and are hungry to climb the table.
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