West Ham vs Brighton: Preview, predictions and lineups

  • Struggling West Ham welcome bogey side Brighton to London Stadium
  • Julen Lopetegui under pressure to improve fortunes of home side
  • Brighton's early season form tailing off with no wins in last four games
West Ham and Brighton lock horns at London Stadium
West Ham and Brighton lock horns at London Stadium / Visionhaus | Stephen Bardens/ Getty Images
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West Ham United will hope to build on the point picked up at Bournemouth when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to London Stadium.

The visitors have a tremendous head-to-head record in this fixture, losing just one of their 14 Premier League meetings, but their fast start to the season has slowed up of late.

Julen Lopetegui has bought himself a little more time by picking up four points from the last six available, but he'll know that a win here could be vital ahead of West Ham's festive/New Year clashes with Liverpool and Manchester City.

Here's 90min's preview of the game.


What time does West Ham vs Brighton kick-off?

  • Location: London, England
  • Stadium: London Stadium
  • Date: Saturday 21 December
  • Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 07:00 PT
  • Referee: Rob Jones
  • VAR: Paul Tierney

West Ham vs Brighton H2H Results (Last Five Games)

  • West Ham: 1 win
  • Brighton: 3 wins
  • Draws: 1
  • Last meeting: West Ham 0-0 Brighton (2 January 2024) - Premier League

Current form (all competitions)

West Ham

Brighton

Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham - 16/12/24

Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace - 15/12/24

West Ham 2-1 Wolves - 09/12/24

Leicester 2-2 Brighton - 08/12/24

Leicester 3-1 West Ham - 03/12/24

Fulham 3-1 Brighton - 05/12/24

West Ham 2-5 Arsenal - 30/11/24

Brighton 1-1 Southampton - 29/11/24

Newcastle 0-2 West Ham - 25/11/24

Bournemouth 1-2 Brighton - 23/11/24


How to watch West Ham vs Brighton on TV and live stream - UK & US

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

N/A - live radio commentary on BBC Radio London Sport

United States

Peacock

Canada

fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada


West Ham team news

Carlos Soler
Carlos Soler is suspended for the hosts / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

West Ham are without the suspended Carlos Soler for the visit of Brighton - the Spaniard picking up a fifth yellow card of the season in Monday night's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

Michail Antonio is expected to miss the rest of the season owing to injuries picked up in a road traffic accident: manager Lopetegui recently proclaimed it was a "miracle" that the 34-year-old had not been hurt more seriously.

Crysencio Summerville could come into the side for Soler, with West Ham going more attacking, but Niclas Fullkrug could also be drafted in up top with Jarrod Bowen shifting out wide.


West Ham predicted lineup vs Brighton

West Ham predicted lineup vs Wolves (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Paqueta, Summerville; Bowen.


Brighton team news

Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck has been struggling with an ankle injury / Charlie Crowhurst/GettyImages

Brighton have a number of players still on the sidelines, no doubt hampering the early season progress made by Fabian Hurzeler's side.

Danny Welbeck has missed two of Brighton's last three games with an ankle injury and he'll miss the trip to the capital. Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood and Solly March remain sidelined with various ailments, but Adam Webster and Matt O'Riley are training again and could be available.

Joel Veltman is fit in a boost to Albion's defensive options.


Brighton predicted lineup vs West Ham

Brighton predicted lineup vs West Ham (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Joao Pedro


West Ham vs Brighton score prediction

The last thing this West Ham side needs is a visit from a team they have never beaten at home in the Premier League.

Yes, the Hammers have looked capable of shoring things up away from home, putting in solid performances against Newcastle and Bournemouth, but things aren't so great when they are expected to be on the front foot.

There's enough quality to hurt a Brighton side who have lost momentum, but Hammers fans will know there's a longstanding mental block that is seemingly very difficult to overcome. Albion have injuries ruling out key players but could eek out a big win at London Stadium - piling more pressure on Lopetegui in the process.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Brighton


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