Brentford vs Brighton: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
By Tom Gott
Two of the surprise packages of the Premier League season so far will butt heads on Saturday when Brentford and Brighton square off.
The newly-promoted hosts have avoided defeat in their first three matches and come into this one on the back of a hard-fought draw with Aston Villa which left them tenth in the league table.
Thomas Frank's men will look to keep that unbeaten start going against a Brighton side who are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 loss to Everton ended their 100% opening to the campaign.
Here's 90min's preview of the game.
Where to watch Brentford vs Brighton on TV/live stream
When is it? Saturday 11 September
What time is kick-off? 15:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Brentford Community Stadium
TV Channel?: NBC (US)
Referee?: Graham Scott
Brentford team news
Midfielder Josh Dasilva remains out with a groin injury, and he's joined on the sidelines by centre-back Mads Sorensen, who picked up what has been described as a 'long-term' knee injury shortly before the international break.
Frank will, however, be able to call upon new signing Frank Onyeka again after the Nigerian was freed from a Covid-enforced isolation.
Brighton team news
Solly March is back from injury, but this could be Marc Cucurella's time to make his eagerly-awaited debut for the club following his expensive move from Getafe. He could be joined on the pitch by striker Neal Maupay, who has shaken off a knee injury in time to face his former employers.
The game will come too soon for the injured trio of Dan Burn (knee), Tariq Lamptey (thigh) and Kjell Scherpen (ankle).
Brentford vs Brighton predicted lineups
Brentford: Raya; Pinnock, Ajer, Jansson; Canos, Onyeka, Ghoddos, Norgaard, Henry; Toney, Mbeumo.
Brighton: Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, Duffy; Groß, Bissouma, Mwepu, Moder, March; Maupay, Trossard.
Brentford vs Brighton head-to-head record
You have to head back to February 2017 for the last meeting between these two sides. They put on a screamer of a 3-3 draw which saw Brentford's 94th-minute worldie cancelled out by a 97th-minute header from Tomer Hemed.
Brentford won 2-0 in the game before that, seven months after Brighton picked up a 3-0 win over the Bees. The two sides have shared wins, losses and draws, with Brighton winning seven of the 17 meetings between the two compared to Brentford's six.
However, a lot has changed since 2017.
Brentford vs Brighton score prediction
Whisper it quietly, but this could be the best game of the weekend if we're lucky.
Both sides play some enthralling football and will really fancy themselves against the other. We should get a good few goals, and if we've got to pick a winner, we'll have to go with Graham Potter's Brighton. They've got the experience over their opponents and look to be putting things together finally.
It's going to be a close one, but the Seagulls should just edge it.
Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Brighton