Brighton & Hove Albion look to stop their recent dip in form as they face Sunderland in a mid-table Premier League clash.
Victory could lift Brighton as high as fifth if win by three goals or more, whilst Sunderland can go fourth if Chelsea lose at Newcastle in the lunchtime kick-off.
Team News
Carlos Baleba is ruled out until January for Brighton because he is away on international duty for Cameroon at Africa Cup of Nations.
Lewis Dunk and Diego Gomez are suspended for this match following their fifth bookings of the season in their 2-0 loss at Liverpool.
Stefanos Tzimas (ACL), Solly March and Adam Webster (both knee) remain sidelined.
Sunderland will be without Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traore and Chemsdine Talbi due to international duty at Africa Cup of Nations.
Luke O’Nien (suspension), Aji Alese (shoulder) and Habib Diarra (groin) still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Sunderland at AMEX Stadium on Saturday 20 December at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Brighton’s first Premier League meeting against Sunderland.
- Sunderland are making their first Premier League visit to Brighton, but have won just two of their last 15 trips to the Seagulls in all competitions (W2, D3, L10).
- Brighton have scored twice in two of their last three home games against Sunderland in all competitions.
- Coming into this matchweek, no player has made more passes this season than Brighton’s Lewis Dunk (1,256).
- Sunderland have claimed just one point in their last three away matches (D1, L2).
Prediction
Having been clinically outplayed at Liverpool despite a dominant second-half performance, Brighton know that this will be more winnable especially at home because they should have enough quality to trouble Sunderland who haven’t exactly had it easy on the road lately.
Sunderland however are missing key players in Reinildo, Sadiki and Talbi whilst Traore had begun to settle more into the team in terms of his presence, so it will be interesting to see how Regis Le Bris adapts his style to cope without them but Sunderland were clinical in a flat Tyne-Wear derby win over Newcastle.
Both teams though do feel pretty matched in quality in my opinion so I am expecting a close battle and wouldn’t be surprised if this ends in a draw.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Sunderland
Result: Brighton 0-0 Sunderland
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