West Ham vs Brighton prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-01-01 19:30.
[p]It was a stunning day for both West Ham and Brighton on Thursday as they rounded out their 2023 schedules with respective wins over the two North London big hitters. David Moyes’ men denied Arsenal with a “really good” defensive showing in a 2-0 win, which subsequently extended their Premier League (PL) winning run to three games, each of which came by multi-goal margins and without reply. [/p]
[p]Kicking off 2024 in a similar vein will be the aim for the Hammers, who have lost just one of their last seven home league outings (W4, D2, L1). Brighton could throw a spanner in the works then, as West Ham have frustratingly won just one of the last 13 H2Hs against the Seagulls (W1, D6, L6). Granted, that victory was in the reverse as the Irons now seek a first winning league double over Brighton since their promotion season of 2011/12.[/p]
[p]It was blockbuster stuff for Brighton as they obliterated Tottenham by taking a 4-0 lead before conceding twice in the latter stages. Boss Roberto De Zerbi was frustrated as his side conceded for a 23rd straight league game, but he was all smiles when stating that he’s “really lucky to be this coach of this team with these players.” That statement applies to the likes of 18 year-old Jack Hinshelwood, who scored Brighton’s 19th PL goal of 2023 by teenage players![/p]
[p]That was more goals by teenagers than every other team in the league combined, so another spritely performance by this young side would be the ideal way to kick off 2024. Just three points behind their hosts, Brighton must improve on a rather rotten away record of just one win across their last seven PL trips (W1, D2, L4), a run which saw them concede 2.4 goals per-match on average. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: After setting up the final goal against Arsenal, West Ham’s James Ward-Prowse became just the second PL player to register ten or more assists in all competitions this season (A10). Brighton full-back Pervis Estupiñán announced his return from a long injury lay-off by scoring from outside of the box against Spurs last week – both of his goals this season were match winners. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Both teams have scored in 18 of Brighton’s 19 PL games (95%), a comfortable league-high.[/p]