Brighton & Hove Albion host Fulham in a huge Premier League showdown at the AMEX Stadium.
Currently locked on 35 points apiece with Brighton ahead on goal difference, victory would see the Seagulls stay sixth whilst Fulham can leapfrog their hosts with a win and go sixth.
Team News
Brighton have no fresh injury concerns after last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
Adam Lallana (muscle) is a doubt but Levi Colwill (muscle), Danny Welbeck (calf) and Jakob Moder (knee) remain absent.
Fulham could be without Antonee Robinson (illness), Willian (calf) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (foot) but the trio are expected to be handed late fitness tests.
Tom Cairney (ankle) and Neeskens Kebano (Achilles) both remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Fulham in a 3pm GMT kick-off at AMEX Stadium on Saturday 18 February, untelevised in UK.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are winless in five previous Premier League meetings against Fulham (D3, L2).
- Fulham have drawn each of their two previous Premier League visits to Brighton, having snatched a 2-2 draw in September 2018 then 0-0 in January 2021.
- Brighton and Fulham have both scored in three of their previous Premier League meetings, except for goalless draws in their two meetings during 2020-21 season.
- Lewis Dunk has been yellow carded in each of Brighton’s last three home matches in all competitions (W3).
- Coming into this matchweek, no player has won more aerial battles than Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic (84).
Prediction
Having missed a chance to pile pressure onto Tottenham in the race for fifth last weekend with a wasteful attacking performance at Palace, Brighton now need to reset and rediscover their end product which has been extremely impressive in recent weeks.
Roberto De Zerbi though has a goalkeeping dilemma because Robert Sanchez’s fumble last week cost them a narrow win, so it feels easy to to argue for Sanchez to be dropped but I would stick with him because he has been excellent and this game is now must-win.
Fulham meanwhile were absolutely brilliant against Forest with a real energy to their attack and some fantastic end product, despite getting frustrated by Keylor Navas’ goalkeeping to limit them to just two goals but can take confidence from their overall display.
Throw in the fact that both teams currently sit six points off the top four and I can see a proper passionate attacking contest between two attack-minded teams, so a draw seems a fair tip if Brighton and Fulham are both at their best and can avoid too many defensive errors.
It is worth noting though that a draw probably wouldn’t be ideal on paper at this particular stage of the season, yet I wouldn’t be surprised if a point here proves crucial for one if not both teams come late May.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Fulham
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