Brentford will face Brighton on Boxing Day in what promises to be an exciting Premier League encounter.
Venue: Amex Stadium
Key Statistics – Brighton vs Brentford
Brighton are winless in their last 12 games in all competitions (D8, L4).
They have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine competitive games, conceding 14 times in that period.
The hosts have failed to score in three of their last five home games.
Brentford are winless in their last four away games (D2, L3).
They have kept just one clean sheet on their road trips this season, conceding12 goals in eight away games.
The visitors have registered a joint league-low 61 corners ahead of this Boxing Day round (3.81 on average per match).
Head to head
The hosts have a superior record in this tie as the last 15 meetings between both sides has featured seven wins for Brighton and four wins for Brentford (D4).
Latest Performances in all competitions
Brighton: L-D-D-D-L
Brentford: L-W-D-L-W
Brighton
After an eleven-day break enforced by COVID-19, Brighton will return to the Premier League looking to get back to winning ways.
The hosts have not won a league game since mid-September when they beat Leicester City 2-1. Since then, they have taken just eight points in the league in eleven games (D8, L3).
That eleven-game winless streak represents the ‘Seagulls’ longest-ever wait for a top-flight win and they will be desperate to end it against Brentford, who they defeated 1-0 back in September.
However, if history is to be followed, the hosts are in for another disappointing game as they are winless across their last eleven Boxing Day fixtures (D4, L7).
Possible Brighton starting line-ups
Robert Sanchez; Tariq Lamptey; Haydon Roberts, Dan Burn, Marc Cucurella; Enock Mwepu, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder; Solomon March, Leandro Trossard, Aaron Connolly.
Injured: Steven Alzate, Lewis Dunk, Jurgen Locadia, Jeremy Sarmiento, Jason Steele.
Doubtful: Joel Veltman, Adam Webster
Suspended: Yves Bissouma
Brentford
After their Carabao Cup exertions on Wednesday, Brentford turn their attention to the Premier League where they will be desperate to pick up maximum points on their way to a possible top-half finish in their first top-tier season for 74 years.
The visitors were defeated 2-0 by Chelsea in the EFL in midweek, and will now turn their attention fully to the Premier League.
The Premier League newbies have fared well so far in the top-flight and come into this tie sitting in 12th place, and a distant nine points ahead of the relegation zone.
They have won five of their opening 15 PL games (D5, L6) and are on course for a 40 point season; the point mark that is usually enough to see teams beat the drop zone.
But a poor head-to-head record against Brighton will be a source of worry for Thomas Frank’s men. The ‘Bees’ have won just one of the last five meetings with their hosts and are coming into this tie without a win in their last four away games.
However, the return of Ivan Toney will boost their chances of picking up maximum points in this game.
Possible Brentford starting line-ups
Alvaro Fernandez; Charlie Goode, Pontus Jansson, Vitaly Janelt; Roerslev Rasmussen, Sahndon Baptiste, Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen, Rico Henry; Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney.
Injured: Kristoffer Ajer, Joshua Dasilva, Julian Jeanvier, Mathias Jorgensen, David Raya.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Brighton 2-1 Brentford
