Brighton & Hove Albion
Leeds United
Leeds United
Impressive Leeds take on struggling Brighton who need points to ensure safety
Leeds to win 2-1
Leeds’ last three fixtures have come against Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United and they’ve taken five points from them, beating City and earning draws against the other two.
It’s a remarkable stretch of form and it means that the Peacocks have risen into the top half of the table at the expense of both Aston Villa and Arsenal in recent weeks. It also means that Leeds have gone unbeaten against all big six teams so far this season – an incredible feat for a promoted side.
With their remaining five games, they’ll have their sights on securing a top half finish, and perhaps closing in on the teams above them.
As for Brighton, they are now the side closest to the bottom three, albeit with a seven-point gap. Just one win from their last five means that they aren’t in the best form coming into this one though they do have a strong record over Leeds.
Form Guide (all comps): WLDDL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Have won seven of the past eight league games against Leeds
Kept five clean sheets in their past seven home matches
Reasons to be fearful:
Have only won twice at home this season
Failed to score in the last three fixtures
Brighton have been a strange team to follow this season, and one surely frustrating for their fans too.
On the one hand, they’ve been competitive in almost all of their matches, played some good football and enjoyed some big wins over the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool.
However, too often their good play has been for nothing, and they’ve left matches empty handed when other teams would have earned points.
Graham Potter’s side should be safe this season, in fairness. Fulham, in 18th place, don’t look as if they have enough left in them to claw back seven points over five games, and Brighton always look as though they have a win in them somewhere along the line.
Ex Leeds defender Ben White should be fit to return here after injury.
Star Man – Neal Maupay
The Brighton striker has four goals in five appearances against Leeds, including the winner against them earlier this season.
Form Guide (all comps): WWWDD
Reasons to be cheerful:
11 points from the last 15 available represents top form
Won nine of their 10 games against the bottom seven teams
Reasons to be fearful:
Never won at the Amex Stadium
Winger Raphinha remains injured
Leeds have shown themselves to be a force within the Premier League once again over the past couple of weeks, taking on both Manchester clubs as well as Liverpool and coming away unscathed.
Their results against the big teams has been excellent this season, but they’ve also been impressive against those at the bottom of the table too, with just one defeat against the current bottom seven clubs.
Interestingly, that defeat came against Brighton earlier in the campaign, and the Seagulls have been one side which Leeds have failed to get the better of away from home over the years.
They’ve never won at the Amex Stadium, and have lost seven of their last eight meetings in all competitions. They’ll be looking to rectify that here.
Star Man – Patrick Bamford
The in-form striker has scored nine of his 14 goals away from home this season.
Both sides will come here to win
Brighton are more desperate for points than Leeds
Expect chances at both ends
In these types of situations, you would often favour the team which has more to play for – in other words, who is more desperate?
Brighton are nearer the bottom, but they won’t be too concerned just yet. Their recent record has been poor, however, and Leeds come into this game bang in form. It could go either way, but Leeds could just pinch it.
Leeds to win 2-1
