West Ham vs Brighton Prediction & Betting Tips - Premier League

Prediction published on 24/12/2020, 13:40  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 24/12/2020 at 14:41 in Premier League Predictions

Last Christmas, West Ham were one place above the Premier League relegation zone. This season, they are in tenth and look for three more points at home to 17th placed Brighton and Hove Albion. Monday saw them lose 3-0 at Chelsea but they are still only five points behind the final Champions League spot and a comfortable 11 above the bottom three. They will want to push on from this better Christmas placing and aim at least for an Europa League place. Avoiding an embarassing defeat in the FA Cup might be a target too. The Hammers only have one win from their last four league games though, a victory away at Leeds United. Home form has seen West Ham lose just one in the last six played in the Premier League. Only once in their last nine home league fixtures have they failed to get on the scoresheet. However, only three times in the last 23 have they kept a home league clean sheet.

Brighton are in relegation trouble, they often are. Usually, they get the occasional win that manages to keep them away from a return to the Championship. This season though, they have only won two of their first 14 league games and are only one place and two points above the bottom three. Could it be like two seasons ago when they only avoided the drop because the bottom three were so bad? Last week saw them fail to beat Sheffield United at home, needing a late equalizer to get a point. Those are the kind of games that Brighton have to win but just as against West Brom and Burnley at home, they only drew and still haven't won a home league game this season. Away form has at least seen them win a couple of games with victories at Newcastle and Aston Villa. The latter victory is their only win in the last 12 league games they've played. One away win in the last six and no goals scored in the last two away league fixtures. Last season, they trailed 3-0 at West Ham but recovered to draw 3-3. Brighton aren't in that form now, go for a home victory.