Brighton vs Luton prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-08-11 14:00.
Brighton & Hove Albion secured European football for the first time last season courtesy of an impressive sixth-place finish in the Premier League (PL), but have spent most of the summer battling to hold on to key players. Moisés Caicedo has been at the heart of a protracted transfer saga with Chelsea, but Robert Sánchez and Alexis Mac Allister both departed for pastures new despite Roberto De Zerbi’s best efforts.
The Seagulls’ drive into the top-six was charged by a strong attack, as only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool scored more PL goals than Brighton (72) last season, and the signing of Watford striker João Pedro adds to their options up front. Having seen them net in each of their last eight home league games (W5, D2, L1), fans will expect plenty of goals at the AMEX Stadium this year.
Last term, Pedro netted for Watford against PL new boys Luton Town, for whom history beckons as they make their first top-flight appearance since 1991/92, having been playing in England’s fifth tier as recently as 2013/14! They are the 51st team to play in the PL, the first to get there having played non-league football and are aiming to become the third club in four to mark their PL debut with a win after Huddersfield (2017) and Brentford (2021).
They’ll be trying to emulate Huddersfield by doing so away from home as they broach the difficult task of translating excellent Championship road form last term (W11, D8, L4) to the top-flight. Brighton hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Hatters, who last tasted victory in these parts back in 1983 (D2, L3 since), but that’s not stopping them “looking forward so much” to their PL debut, according to striker Carlton Morris.
Players to watch: Evan Ferguson netted twice in Brighton’s penultimate PL home game and opened the scoring in each of his last two PL goalscoring outings. If he features, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu will become the first man to play for the same club in each of England’s top five divisions and while not a prolific goal-getter, Luton have only lost one of his 21 goalscoring appearances for them (W19, D1).
Hot streak: Brighton have never drawn a PL opener (W3, L3).