West Ham United v Brighton and Hove Albion Preview

[(West Ham United F.C.) Weakness]:
1. West Ham United F.C.'s last Premier League victory dates back to November when they defeated Burnley. Since then, they have secured only 3 points. Currently, after 18 matches, they sit 18th in the league standings with 13 points.
2. West Ham United F.C. have no new injuries from their previous match, though several first-team players remain unavailable. This includes the injured Niclas Fullkrug and Lukasz Fabianski, as well as Aaron Wan Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf, who are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
3. Since Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Graham Potter in late September, West Ham United F.C. fans had hoped for an immediate positive impact. However, his win rate stands at only 15%, and the team are set to begin the new year still languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table.
4. West Ham United F.C. are currently experiencing a three-game losing streak and the team's recent form has been poor.
5. Defensive issues have been a major concern for West Ham United, as they have let in 36 goals, marking the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League, with no signs of recent improvement.
6. West Ham United F.C. have scored a total of 4 goals in their last 5 matches, with an average of less than 1 goal per game. Their offensive performance is not strong.
7. West Ham United F.C. have got 4 wins, 10 draws, 8 losses in 22 encounters, being at a disadvantage.
8. West Ham United F.C. have lost all the last 3 matches in AH with performances below expectations.

[(Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.) Strength]:
1. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.'s early-season performance has kept them in contention for European qualification. If they secure a victory in their final match of 2025, they could potentially climb to eighth place, matching their position at the end of the previous season.
2. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. reported no new injuries from their previous match and have recently welcomed back some first-team players, including Danny Welbeck and Jan Paul van Hecke. The former is expected to make his first start since recovering from injury and will look to add to his goal tally (currently 7 goals).
3. In their 18 Premier League matches, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. have achieved 6 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses, and are currently facing a 5-game winless streak.
4. In their last 8 encounters, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. scored 15 goals and conceded 8 goals, thus having the advantage in terms of both offense and defense.

[(Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.) Neutral]:
1. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. narrowly missed out on European qualification last season and are eager to build on that this term, but inconsistent form has hindered their progress.

[(Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.) Weakness]:
1. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. will be without the long-term injured Adam Webster and Carlos Baleba, who is participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
2. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. have conceded 9 goals in their last 5 matches, with an average of nearly 2 goals conceded per game. Their defensive performance is poor.
3. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. have lost 4 of the last 5 matches in AH with performances below expectations.

[Tips]:
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. are currently ahead of West Ham United F.C. in the standings, so they hope to extend the advantage this time.

From the view of recent form, West Ham United F.C. are currently experiencing a three-game losing streak, while Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. have been in 5-game winles run.

As for H2H records, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. have got the upper hand.

AH market provided visitors a -0/0.5 line for this match.

Considering that Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. are stronger overall, we expect them to claim a victory.

[Recommended]:
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. (-0/0.5)