Brighton & Hove Albion vs Newcastle United, Premier League 2020-2021, Today Match Prediction

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Newcastle United Match Prediction & Analysis

What an incredibly important match this is to these two sides, both battling to remain in the Premier League for next season.

Brighton are coming into this one in slightly better form, having secured three valuable points against Southampton last weekend. That victory moves them three points clear of relegation and, regardless of Fulham’s result 24 earlier, will remain outside the drop zone for this weekend at least.

Their overall form has been a worry, however, with three straight defeats before last weekend, and they will want to avoid another run like that coming into the final stretch of the campaign.

Newcastle haven’t won a game now for six weeks, and have only scored three league goals during that period. They’ve been dancing with danger for a while now, but could realistically slip into the bottom three if Fulham secure victory themselves.

There is plenty riding on the outcome of this one.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Brighton & Hove Albion Preview

Form Guide (all comps): DLLLW

Reasons to be cheerful:

     They’ve never lost to Newcastle in the league

     Dan Burn could be fit to play despite injury

Reasons to be fearful:

     Could lose three consecutive games at home

     They’ve won just one of their last 18 home matches in the league

Of the two sides, Brighton are the most likely to come out here and play to win the game, as they have done for much of the season.

Unfortunately, it has not been through poor attitude that Brighton are in the position they are in – a mixture of bad luck and not taking their chances has seen the Seagulls occupy a lower position than perhaps their quality deserves.

Having said that, just one home win from their last 18 matches at the Amex Stadium is a shocking return for a Premier League side, and their struggle to find the back of the net has hindered them throughout the season.

Neal Maupay, the man entrusted as their main striker this season, just hasn’t produced regularly enough – he’s now gone nine games without a goal.

They found the back of the net twice against the Saints last weekend. Can they do similar here?

Star Man – Leandro Trossard

Got the winner against Southampton last weekend. Can he inspire his side again here?

Newcastle United Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LLDDD

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Currently on their longest unbeaten run of the season

     Almiron has an outside chance of being fit

Reasons to be fearful:

     Winless in their last five games

     Haven’t kept successive clean sheets away from home since 2013

Newcastle have certainly had some bad luck with injuries of late, losing all three of their top scorers in recent weeks.

Callum Wilson, Saint-Maximin and Almiron have all been sidelined, although the latter could be fit to play a role here, despite originally thought to be out until April.

They could sure use his goals – he scored two goals in February before missing the last two games with a knee issue.

That being said, Newcastle have been poor for much of the season, their attitude being prepared to sit back and try and hit teams on the counterattack. On occasion, this has worked – against the likes of Everton for example – but too often it has left them toothless going forward.

They need a huge performance here, but their record against Brighton is poor, as is their win ratio in recent weeks.

Star Man – Miguel Almiron

If the Paraguayan is available to the Magpies, it could improve their chances massively.