Two of last season’s surprise packages collide as Brighton & Hove Albion host Newcastle United at the AMEX Stadium.
Depending upon results elsewhere earlier in the weekend, victory could see Brighton go top of the table.
Newcastle meanwhile can climb back into the top ten with a win.
Team News
Danny Welbeck is ruled out for Brighton with a muscle injury.
Julio Enciso and Jakub Moder both remain absent with knee injuries.
Newcastle could hand Lewis Hall a late fitness test as he continues to adapt to their training and playing style, which saw him miss their defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
Javier Manquillo (groin), Sven Botman (ankle) and Joelinton (fitness) are doubts but Emil Krafth (knee) and Joe Willock (hamstring) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Newcastle at the AMEX Stadium in a 5:30pm BST kick-off on Saturday 2 September, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are unbeaten in four of their last six meetings against Newcastle (W2, D2, L2).
- Newcastle are yet to win away at Brighton in the Premier League (D4, L2).
- Brighton have kept four clean sheets at home in six meetings against Newcastle at AMEX Stadium.
- No Brighton player has made more interceptions than Solly March in their opening three matches of the season (5).
- Defeat would see Newcastle lose three consecutive league matches for the first time since March-April 2022.
Prediction
Having seen their unbeaten start come to a surprise end against West Ham in a sloppy defeat where their end product was just missing, I do expect Brighton to mount a serious response because they otherwise played well aside from poor defensive marking which also cost them a result.
Newcastle meanwhile failed to kill off their game against Liverpool with an one-man advantage with wasteful finishing, which was deservedly punished with a late loss of defensive focus which cost them at least a draw.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies however are yet to win away at the AMEX so this will be a tough ask because Brighton won’t want another proud record to go, after their unbeaten run against West Ham was ended last weekend.
A draw therefore seems like a fair prediction if both teams can sort out their end products.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Newcastle
Result: Brighton 3-1 Newcastle
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