Brighton and Hove Albion host top-four chasing Aston Villa at AMEX Stadium.
Victory could see Brighton move closer towards the top ten and keep their hopes of a top-half finish alive.
Villa will stay fourth regardless of the result but a win would put them on the verge of sealing a top-four finish – which would be confirmed if Tottenham lose at Liverpool in the teatime match.
Team News
Jan Paul van Hecke is ruled out for Brighton after he missed their 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth with a muscle injury.
Adam Lallana (unspecified) is also ruled out of selection with no timeline given for a potential return.
Tariq Lamptey (muscle), Pervis Estupinan, Evan Ferguson (both ankle), James Milner (thigh), Jack Hinshelwood (foot), Kaoru Mitoma (back), Billy Gilmour and Solly March (both knee) remain absent.
Villa have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 4-2 first-leg loss to Olympiacos in their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday evening.
Emiliano Martinez (thigh), Youri Tielemans (groin), Alex Moreno (calf), Jacob Ramsey (toe), Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara (both knee) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Villa at AMEX Stadium on Sunday 5 May at 2pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK – despite not being selected for broadcast in the initial announcement of TV picks.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are winless in their last six meetings against Aston Villa (D1, L5).
- Villa are unbeaten in four Premier League visits to Brighton (W2, D2).
- Ollie Watkins has scored four goals in his last two Villa appearances against Brighton (W2).
- Brighton have conceded seven goals in their last two home matches without scoring in reply (L2), which is as many as they have conceded in their last two matches alone.
- Douglas Luiz has been booked in each of his last three domestic away appearances for Villa.
Prediction
With this season now clearly fizzling out after another lacklustre performance in their loss at Bournemouth, Brighton realistically need to just halt their rut and look ahead to next season starting with a more clinical display here.
Villa meanwhile were absolutely battered by an intense-pressing Olympiacos team with sloppy defensive mistakes, but will have Pau Torres back to hold up the spine of their defence here in a game where they need to deliver a reaction and boost their top-four ambitions.
Brighton though will of have more preparatory time but given their injury crisis, I do see Villa winning here and a clean sheet could well be possible if can keep it tight defensively.
Prediction: Brighton 0-2 Aston Villa
Result: Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa