After failing to win any of their first 12 Premier League meetings with Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United have the chance to complete the league double over their opponents and in turn put some distance themselves and the Seagulls in the race for European spots.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Spurs
TOT
|
38 | +13 | 66 |
| 6 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
38 | +14 | 63 |
| 7 |
Newcastle
NEW
|
38 | +23 | 60 |
| 8 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
38 | -1 | 60 |
| 9 |
West Ham
WHU
|
38 | -14 | 52 |
West Ham come into this match in excellent form having won their last three league matches without conceding a goal.
Brighton will also feel confident of securing another three points after their impressive 4-2 victory against Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Both sides are only separated by three points, and a win for the Seagulls would move them above West Ham thanks to a superior goal difference.
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Team news
Mohammed Kudus is unavailable for the Hammers after joining up with Ghana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Lucas Paqueta are all doubts.
Lewis Dunk is suspended after he received his fifth yellow card of the season against Spurs. Igor Julio is not fit but Facundo Buonanotte is available and Adam Webster will also be involved after recovering from injury.
Last five Premier League meetings
Key facts
West Ham won the reverse fixture against Brighton 3-1 in August, ending a 12-match winless league run against the Seagulls. They last did the league double over them in 2011/12, while they’ve never done so in the top flight.
West Ham are unbeaten in their first league game in each of the last six calendar years since a 2-0 home loss to Manchester United in 2017.
Brighton forward Danny Welbeck has scored more Premier League goals against West Ham than he has against any other opponent with six. However, five of his six goals against them have come in home matches.
Brighton are unbeaten in their last six away league games against West Ham, winning two and drawing four, since a 6-0 loss in the Championship in April 2012.
What the managers have said
David Moyes: “Brighton have been our bogey team over many seasons here at West Ham. We broke the hoodoo earlier this season down at their place. I have to say though, Roberto De Zerbi has brought something different to the Premier League. I think there are so many good young coaches out there and De Zerbi is one of them.
“They’ve got an exciting team and lots of young players. They’re a good model of a football club and you can only admire them. They also won their group in Europe and they’re also in the last 16. They’re up there in the Premier League too, so it will be a tough game for us.” More
Roberto De Zerbi: “I think he [Moyes] is doing a great job, he won the [UEFA Europa] Conference League last season and this season they are competing in the Premier League and Europa League in a great way.
“They have a clear style, [it is] different than Brighton's but the football is not only one way and I have a big respect for him. They won at the Amex but they also won at Tottenham away and Arsenal away. It is very tough to play against West Ham because they are very good in defensive spaces and their ability in the counter-attack is very important, their last result was not a surprise”. More
