Brighton & Hove Albion face Aston Villa in a huge top-five showdown in midweek Premier League action.
Victory could lift fifth-placed Brighton as high as third if Chelsea lose elsewhere this matchweek, whilst fourth-placed Villa can go second with a win if Chelsea and Manchester City don’t get maximum points in this matchweek.
Team News
Georginio Rutter is a doubt for Brighton after he suffered a head injury during their 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
Kaoru Mitoma (foot) could return but James Milner (muscle), Solly March and Adam Webster (both knee) remain sidelined.
Villa will be without Ross Barkley after he suffered a knock during their 1-0 victory at home to Wolves.
Tyrone Mings remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Villa at AMEX Stadium on Wednesday 3 December at 7:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brighton have won just one of their last nine league meetings against Villa (W1, D2, L6).
- Villa have lost one of their six previous Premier League trips to Brighton (W3, D2, L1).
- Both Brighton and Villa have kept one clean sheet in their last six meetings.
- Brighton have lost just one of their last nine league matches (W5, D3, L1).
- Villa have kept clean sheets in two of their last three league games (W3).
Prediction
Having produced a classy controlled performance at Forest from the get-go where they looked organised and more urgent in wanting the win, Brighton now need to bring that same control and composure but be more clinical because they could of easily won by more goals.
Villa likewise produced a similar performance but did look more vulnerable when Wolves made transitory breaks if not for Emiliano Martinez’s exceptional saves, which has to be a slight concern for them if Brighton can sit in and look to do the same.
I however do feel that this could well be a very close game and I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends in a draw.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa