Premier League | Gameweek 17

Dec 21, 2024 at 3pm UK

London Stadium

West Ham vs Brighton

Match preview

The story of Monday night's clash between West Ham and Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium was a tale of two dead-ball situations, as after Lucas Paqueta's penalty had put the Irons within touching distance of victory, an extraordinary free-kick from Enes Unal denied them a precious victory.

Had the Cherries' Turkish striker not fired into the top corner with one of the goals of the season, the Irons would have been celebrating back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, having beaten relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 prior to their trip to the south coast.

Despite this, Lopetegui's 14th-placed side still enjoy a healthy cushion above the relegation zone - seven points clear of 18th-placed Ipswich Town - but inconsistency continues to be a theme for Saturday's hosts.

Indeed, only once this season have West Ham followed up a Premier League result with the same result - back-to-back defeats at the hands of Leicester City and Arsenal - suggesting there will be a winner and a loser from this weekend's clash at the London Stadium.

However, the Irons are slowly rebuilding the walls of their fortress and have taken a respectable 10 points from their last five Premier League games at the London Stadium, the same tally they had taken in their previous 11 top-flight home encounters.

West Ham's four-point haul from their last two Premier League games still trumps the visitors' record from their last four top-flight fixtures, as Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton failed to win for the fourth time on the spin when fierce rivals Palace visited the Amex last weekend.

The Seagulls' wings were clipped by the dazzling Ismaila Sarr, who scored twice and provided an unorthodox assist for Trevoh Chalobah in a masterful performance from Palace, whose only blemish was a late Marc Guehi own goal.

A run of two points from their last four Premier League games and two wins from their last nine in all competitions is unbefitting a team with continental aspirations, but the ninth-placed Seagulls are still very much in the European mix, just three points behind Manchester City in fifth.

Hurzeler's men have scored and conceded in each of their last nine games in all competitions, and Guehi's own goal last weekend, however inconsequential, extended the Seagulls' goal drought to 14 games in the league and EFL Cup combined.

Brighton have also established themselves as West Ham's home bogey team, avoiding defeat in each of their first seven top-flight visits to the London Stadium; five of those matches ended in draws, but the Hammers have never faced a single Premier League opponent at home without winning more times.

Recent Performance

West Ham United Premier League form:DWLLWD

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:WWDLDL

Team News

It is one in, one out on the suspension front for West Ham, as while Emerson Palmieri is back after serving a one-match ban for the defeat at Bournemouth, midfielder Carlos Soler will miss this game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

The Spaniard was substituted for Niclas Fullkrug before the hour mark on Monday night, and that change could come from the opening whistle as Lopetegui drops Jarrod Bowen back into a wide role to accommodate the German centre-forward.

Fullkrug's fellow striker Michail Antonio is still on the long road to recovery from surgery following his recent car accident, while Jean-Clair Todibo's groin strain is the only other injury concern.

Brighton's medical staff have more players to look after than West Ham's at the moment, and Hurzeler will be without five of them for Saturday's game, including long-term absentee Adam Webster (thigh).

Danny Welbeck (ankle), Ferdi Kadioglu (foot), Jack Hinshelwood (knee), James Milner (thigh) and Solly March (knee) are also unlikely to feature, but there is some good news in the return of Matt O'Riley and Joel Veltman.

The latter two are likely to push for immediate recalls to the first XI, with Veltman replacing Tariq Lamptey and O'Riley potentially taking Yasin Ayari's place in the engine room.

Possible starting lineup

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Fullkrug

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, O'Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro