Brighton & Hove Albion look to start 2021 on a high as they welcome Wolves to the Amex Stadium.
With Burnley not in action until Sunday, Brighton can climb to 16th with victory whilst Wolves look to go 11th if Leeds lose at Tottenham in the lunchtime match.
Team News
Adam Lallana and Aaron Connolly could return for Brighton after missing Tuesday’s defeat to Arsenal with groin injuries.
Danny Welbeck (knee) could also feature but Tariq Lamptey (hamstring), Jose Izquierdo (thigh) and Florian Andone (knee) are ruled out.
Wolves have no fresh injury concerns after losing at Manchester United in midweek as Leander Dendoncker and Willy Boly remain absent with knocks.
Raul Jimenez (head) and Jonny (knee) are also sidelined indefinitely.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are unbeaten in their last six league meetings against Wolves (W3, D3).
- Wolves have won just one of their last six trips to the Amex (W1, D3, L3).
- Two of the Seagulls’ last three meetings against Wolves have ended in goalless draws (D3).
- No Wolves player has lost more aerial battles than Fabio Silva, who lost 28 such battles in 11 league appearances this season.
- No African Premier League players have picked up more yellow cards this season than Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, who collected four yellow cards in 15 league appearances this season.
Prediction
Brighton definitely have to improve their play because neat passing play isn’t enough if lack the finishing product, especially coupled with poor defending which was evident in their conceded losing goal against Arsenal in midweek.
Wolves meanwhile found themselves in a scrappy encounter against Man Utd in which they defended solidly yet wasted chances through poor or rash finishing, despite producing excellent build-up play for many of their chances.
This therefore feels like a game where finishing will be key to the outcome and something in my instinct says that Wolves should have the edge despite their poor form in this fixture, although we shouldn’t expect a cracker.
Prediction: Brighton 0-1 Wolves
Result: Brighton 3-3 Wolves