Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Sheffield United to the Amex Stadium in the first of a Super Sunday quadruple header.
Victory could see Brighton rise to 15th in the table if Arsenal lose at Everton on Saturday evening, whereas Sheffield United look to move closer towards safety despite definitely spending Xmas at the foot of the table.
Team News
Tariq Lamptey is set to be in contention for Brighton after being substituted during Wednesday’s goalless draw at Fulham with a knock.
Florian Andone and Jose Izquierdo remain absent with knee injuries.
Sheffield Utd could welcome Oli McBurnie after he missed Thursday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United with a shoulder injury.
Sander Berge (hamstring) is a doubt but Kean Bryan (calf) and Jack O’Connell (knee) remain sidelined.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are winless in two previous Premier League meetings against Sheffield United (D1, L1).
- Sheffield Utd are unbeaten in their last five league trips to Brighton (W3, D2).
- Neither team are yet to score a counter-attack goal in the league this season.
- Chris Wilder’s Blades are the only Premier League team yet to win a match this season.
- Brighton’s Neal Maupay has scored two penalties in 11 league appearances this season, compared to one penalty in 37 outings last season.
Prediction
Brighton were simply unlucky to come across an improved Fulham team when they did in midweek because at any other time of the season, the Seagulls definitely would of won that game after enjoying the best of slim chances, although they can’t be too disheartened because Sheffield Utd will be another tough test.
Speaking of Chris Wilder’s Blades, defending seems to be their biggest issue still and could do with reinvestment during January’s transfer window but their hard-working ethic was evident on Thursday because they could of easily rolled over once fell behind despite initially leading, yet they managed to find a second goal and lose by just one goal.
Now if the visitors can take confidence from that performance and deliver an improved defensive display, this could be a cracking encounter between two teams who currently lack that clinical quality in terms of goals so a draw would be a strong bet.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Sheffield United
Result: Brighton 1-1 Sheffield United