Premier League: Fulham Face Big Litmus Test Against Brighton

Fulham vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Two Premier League teams that are aiming to punch their tickets to Europe at the end of the season are going head-to-head, as Fulham host Brighton at Craven Cottage on Thursday. Both teams will be hoping to kick on after draws last time out. Fulham and Brighton are coming off 1-1 draws against Tottenham and Southampton, respectively, in games they should’ve won.

Brighton are in pole position because they’re the fourth seed with 23 points. Fulham are in 10^th place but aren’t far behind because they already have 19 points. A win for Marco Silva’s side would cut into Brighton’s lead, and they can enter the Top 6, while a win for Fabian Hurzeler’s side could elevate them to second place, depending on this weekend’s Premier League 2024 results.

 

Talking Points

Jimenez eager to return on Fulham’s scoresheet

Fulham would’ve been in a better position at the table if they defeated Tottenham last time out. The Cottagers were the more aggressive side since they have 14 total shots and eight shots on target compared to eight and three for the Spurs.

Raul Jimenez had a couple of glorious chances in the first half, but Fraser Forster saved his attempts. Rodrigo Muniz eventually replaced Raul Jimenez during the 78^th minute. The Mexican striker hasn’t found the back of the net since Fulham’s 3-1 loss against Aston Villa last October, although he continues to lead the squad with four league goals.

Besides Raul Jimenez, Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Harry Wilson are also threats to score for Fulham, combining for nine league goals this season. Wilson does his damage as a sub, which should give Brighton something to think about.

The Cottagers will miss several key players against Brighton, as Harrison Reed (knee), Joachim Andersen (calf), Jorge Cuenca (ankle), and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) are out due to injuries, while Tom Cairney must serve his suspension after accruing a red card (and the equaliser) against the Spurs. Don’t be surprised if Marco Silva omits Andreas Pereira again from the matchday squad due to the midfielder’s recent interview discussing a move away from the club.

 

Welbeck on the cusp of making history with Brighton

Like Raul Jimenez, Danny Welbeck hasn’t scored since late October. Welbeck will be eager to score this weekend against Fulham since doing so would put him in the history books. The 34-year-old has 29 Premier League goals while playing for the Seagulls, just one behind team-leading Pascal Groß.

Welbeck will likely join Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro, and Georginio Rutter up front, but Fabian Hurzeler could also start either Yankuba Minteh, Simon Adingra, or Evan Ferguson if he wants to mix things up following their lacklustre performance against Southampton. Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba will continue to serve his suspension, while team captain Lewis Dunk could be available to start after returning from injury.

Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Adam Webster (hamstring), Joel Veltman (hamstring), Jack Hinshelwood (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), and Brajan Gruda (illness) are not available for the visitors.

 

History

Fulham won 3-0 at this exact fixture last season since Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz, and Adama Traore found the back of the net. The Cottagers have never lost in eight Premier League matches against the Seagulls (W4, D4), their joint-biggest undefeated streak in the English top-flight alongside Norwich City.

Brighton have lost three of their four previous Premier League games against Fulham at Craven Cottage (D1) after winning three in a row against them in the Championship from 2014-15 to 2016-17. The Seagulls qualified for Europe for the first time in club history in 2023 and are looking to do so again this year.

The hosts and the visitors have won twice, drawn twice, and lost once in their last five league matches, although Fulham are winless in their last two (D1, L1).

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Premier League 2024 odds predict a close fight between Fulham and Brighton. The Cottagers have the slight advantage at 2.33, whereas the Seagulls are not far behind at 2.69, and a draw is at 3.32 in the 1X2 market. Taking down Brighton is a tall task, but it’s achievable for Fulham since they’ve already done it before. Either way, this game is going to be a fun one with a handful of goals, hence our recommended bet above.

A Correct Score of 3-0 in favour of the Cottagers – the result of their most recent meeting – has a generous offer of 26.00. In contrast, a 1-1 draw between these two sides should give you a payday of 6.70.

   

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