West Ham vs Brighton | Match Preview & Predicted XIs

West Ham return to action in the Premier League when they welcome South Coast side Brighton and Hove Albion to the London Stadium.

After tasting defeat to London rivals Chelsea, the Hammers have dropped to tenth in the Premier League. West Ham will want to return to winning ways against a Brighton side that is currently in the relegation battle.

Despite a fantastic start to the season over the last four games, the Hammers have only taken four points from a possible twelve. Brighton, however, have only taken two points. Though the Seagulls have performed well and have only failed at putting the ball in the net.

WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

The Hammers’ big news is that David Moyes has confirmed that Michail Antonio is in contention to be in the matchday squad. Besides a forty-five minute cameo against Aston Villa, the Englishman has been missing for a big portion of the season with a hamstring injury.

Sebastien Haller has led the line in Antonio’s absence. Some games Haller has impressed and others he has frustrated. Moyes will not want to risk Antonio straight away, so he will likely make his return from the bench.

Moyes will likely change his tactics from the defeat against Chelsea. At Stamford Bridge, the team was set up to play more defensively with Said Benrahma being replaced with Mark Noble. The experiment didn’t work, and Moyes will probably switch to a more attack-minded team against the Seagulls.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

West Ham Formation | 4-4-1-1

L. Fabianski, V. Coufal, F. Balbuena, A. Ogbonna, A. Cresswell, J. Bowen, T. Soucek, D. Rice (C), P. Fornals, S. Benrahma & S. Haller.

Brighton & Hove Albion | 3-4-2-1

R. Sanchez, B. White, L. Dunk (C), A. Webster, J. Veltman, Y. Bissouma, A. Lallana, S. March, L. Trossard, A, Mac Allister & D. Welbeck.

MATCH PREDICTION

Despite what the league table suggests Brighton will be a very tough side. The South Coast side have been playing some terrific football, and their expected points and goals are much higher than they have achieved. If Graham Potter’s side hit form, then they could be a very tricky customer.

The Hammers should have too much quality for the Seagulls on this occasion. West Ham have performed well against the ‘lesser’ sides in the League this season. The match against Brighton might be Sebastien Haller’s last chance to impress in a claret and blue shirt. The Ivorian striker has come up with goals when needed and could do so against Brighton.

SCORE PREDICTION

3-2 Haller and Benrahma to score for West Ham. A win for the Hammers could see them climb the table up to seventh, depending on other results.