Brighton will be looking to build on their good start
The third matchday in the Premier League is on the agenda and the teams have a lot planned. West Ham United, in particular, are already under a bit of pressure as the hosts need to get on track.
Ahead of the West Ham v Brighton game, the odds are showing the hosts as favourites. This may have to do with the home advantage, possibly also with the individual class. Overall, however, the guest does not have to hide.
Brighton seem to have already consolidated at the beginning of the season. The visitors have self-confidence and can also hold their own against teams like West Ham.
West Ham – Statistics & current form
Last season, West Ham United were a very strong, unpleasant opponent who did a lot of things right. The team naturally wanted to build on that. For the new arrivals Scamacca, Cornet, Aguerd, Kehrer, Downes and Areola, the Hammers put a little over 120 million euros on the table to date. Some things still have to find their way, which the first games proved impressively.
West Ham is one of three teams without points. First there was a 0:2 at home against Manchester City, which is a result that can certainly happen – the individual superiority of the Skyblues is too great. But the 0:1 in Nottingham raised questions. After all, there was a 3-1 win against Viborg in the first leg of the Conference League qualifiers.
The final phase of last season already heralded a slightly negative trend at West Ham. Seven of the last ten games were lost across the season. As a result, the team was also eliminated from the Europa League as the dream of reaching the final drew ever closer.
West Ham must answer unanswered questions
At the moment, it still seems a little unclear where West Ham’s journey can take them. Offensively, there was little to see in the first two league games, not a single goal scored by the hosts. Especially against Nottingham, the attacking play lay fallow for long stretches. In addition, West Ham have not won any of their last ten Premier League games against their upcoming opponents, the Seagulls.
So the signs point to a tricky, complicated game for the home side. The attack must improve, but at the same time they must not leave too many spaces to a compact, possession-oriented opponent who is good at switching. Finding that balance will be essential for West Ham.
There is still a lot of catching up to do in their own offensive, the opponent plays very purposeful and orderly and rarely provides spectacle. Due to these omens, our prediction before the West Ham vs Brighton match is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
Predicted West Ham line-up:
Areola – Coufal, Zouma, Kehrer, Johnson – Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Cornet – Antonio
Last matches played by West Ham:
European Conference League Qualification
19/08/2022 – West Ham 3 – 1 Viborg
Premier League
14/08/2022 – Nottingham Forest 1 – 0 West Ham
07/08/2022 – West Ham 0 – 2 Manchester City
Club friendlies
30/07/2022 – Lens 0 – 0 West Ham
23/07/2022 – Luton 1 – 1 West Ham
Brighton – Statistics & current form
The development of Brighton and Hove Albion in recent years has been consistently impressive. The Seagulls have increasingly become a more unpredictable possession team and, even when top players are snatched away from them, they always have new ideas at the ready. This summer, too, they had to respond to the departures of Bissouma and Cucurella.
There were not many limitations for Brighton. To start with, there was a win at Old Trafford at Manchester United, followed by a good 0-0 against Newcastle with a lot of neutralisation on the pitch. Brighton manage against almost every opponent to create phases in which the opponent can be confronted with big problems. Be it with aggressive pressing or with possession.
Brighton have now played seven games in a row without a defeat. The last two games in London, at Arsenal and Tottenham, were won by the Seagulls. In addition, this team scored at least once ten times in a row against West Ham, who are currently struggling offensively. The signs are good that a defeat for Brighton can be avoided.
Control and compactness as essential factors
Even when Brighton have a weaker day offensively – and they certainly do, especially in terms of lack of efficiency – this team can get wins or at least get points. In pre-season, Brighton managed to keep zero defensively eleven times. That was a very good value for a team that is rather midfield in the league.
One problem Brighton often had in pre-season was efficiency. The team only managed just over 40 goals, which was not really in line with the value of the goals they were expected to score. So increasing efficiency in the final third was on the docket for the summer.
In any case, Brighton will be able to pose bigger problems for West Ham. Given the alignment and quality of both teams, our value tip ahead of the West Ham v Brighton game is that neither team will score.
Predicted line-up of Brighton:
Sanchez – Veltman, Dunk, Webster – March, Caicedo, Mwepu, Trossard – Big, Mac Allister – Welbeck
Last Brighton games:
Premier League
13/08/2022 – Brighton 0 – 0 Newcastle
07/08/2022 – Manchester United 1 – 2 Brighton
Club Friendlies
30/07/2022 – Brighton 5 – 1 Espanyol
26/07/2022 – Brighton 0 – 1 Brentford
23/07/2022 – Reading 1 – 2 Brighton
West Ham – Brighton Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
The record between the two teams is extremely even, despite some good results Brighton have picked up in recent years. Ten games went to West Ham, nine to Brighton, eleven times they both drew. With 41:39 goals, West Ham also have a slight lead here.
West Ham – Brighton Tip
West Ham won their first competitive game once during the week after all, but there are still some unanswered questions. That is not the case for Brighton, the Seagulls are already playing at the same level as last season
Defensively, West Ham have had rather few problems so far, Brighton are a compact team anyway. Therefore, before the match West Ham against Brighton our tip is that less than 2.5 goals will fall.
