Brighton vs Southampton Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Bottom-of-the-table Southampton travel to in-form Brighton in only the third Friday evening Premier League fixture of the season.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 29th November, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Peacock Premium
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Premier League on Peacock
Brighton Preview: Nosebleed territory
Brighton are flying high in the Premier League with the Seagulls currently in fifth place heading into the latest round of fixtures following a pair of 2-1 victories over Man City and, most recently, Bournemouth.
Only league leaders Liverpool have lost fewer Premier League games than Fabian Hurzeler's side this season, whose only defeat at home in any competition in 2024-25 came against Arne Slot's side in the Carabao Cup at the end of October.
Southampton Preview: Rock-bottom
With Southampton now five points adrift of safety, they really need to start picking up regular points to avoid being caught adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table, with the promoted outfit having picked up just one win in the division this season.
In fairness to the Saints though, there were some positives to take last weekend as they were beating leaders Liverpool until the 65th minute, and it took a Mo Salah double to take the game away from them.
Brighton Team News: Baleba suspended, Dunk returns
Hurzeler has confirmed that Lewis Dunk will return to the matchday squad and the centre-back could replace Igor Julio in the heart of defence, while full-back Tariq Lamptey is also fit again.
With Carlos Baleba suspended, the Brighton boss has a decision to make in central midfield. With Jack Hinshelwood's condition uncertain, Hurzeler could deploy either Mats Wieffer or the more attack-minded Matt O'Riley alongside Yasin Ayari.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; O'Riley, Ayari; Rutter, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Unavailable: March (Fitness), Baleba (Suspended)
Questionable: Webster (Injured), Milner (Injured), Kadioglu (Injured), Hinshelwood (Injured)
Southampton Team News: Lallana out
Paul Onuachu picked up a niggle in the defeat to Liverpool but Russell Martin was hopeful that he could be involved. Cameron Archer will deputise up front if needed.
Adam Lallana will play no part against his former club though, with the veteran currently dealing with a hamstring strain that will keep him out of the new few fixtures.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Downes, Stephens, Fraser; Dibling, Fernandes, Aribo, Armstrong; Onuachu
Unavailable: Ramsdale (Injured), Bazunu (Injured), Bednarek (Injured), Smallbone (Injured), Lallana (Injured), Stewart (Injured)
Questionable: Onuachu (Injured)
Brighton vs Southampton Prediction
The fact that Brighton have scored at least two goals in eight of their nine home fixtures in all competitions this season does not bode well for bottom-of-the-table Southampton, who are without their first-choice goalkeeper and centre-back.
The Saints, though, have provided some attacking threat of late, scoring twice against Liverpool last week, and with Brighton having kept just one clean sheet in their last ten competitive fixtures, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Seagulls concede en route to victory.
Brighton vs Southampton Tip: Brighton to win & both teams to score
