Premier League: Seagulls Can Prolong the Hammers’ Wait for Points

West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

West Ham’s search for their first points of the new Premier League season continues on Sunday when Graham Potter’s Brighton and Hove Albion visit the London Stadium.

It’s a game for the football purists and we will have plenty of neutrals watching the game between two teams which love to entertain, but it’s also a deadly serious proposition for Hammers boss David Moyes who wants to get his side’s campaign up and running.

Teams in the top half of the table will be paying close attention to the Premier League 2022 updates as both have designs on a run towards the Europa League places, having finished seventh and ninth last season.

The Hammers have been in the top seven over the past two campaigns and come into this match on the back of a Europa Conference League win over FF Viborg, but Moyes’ side are one of three sides to have lost both their league games so far alongside Everton and Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Brighton come into the game in good shape and with four points, which puts the Seagulls level with third place.

Talking Points

Europa success launches West Ham’s season

There was little the Hammers could do to avoid an opening day defeat to Manchester City as Erling Haaland scored two stunning goals, but then a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was a serious shock to the system.

West Ham had a goal harshly disallowed, plus they hit the woodwork twice, and Declan Rice missed a penalty as the Premier League new boys won their first points of the season.

With 57-per cent possession and 19 shots on goal, West Ham should have left the Midlands with something. And the Forest defeat came as a huge shock.

Despite one or two disappointments over the summer, West Ham have been active in the transfer market, bringing in Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca and Burnley winger Maxwell Cornet for a combined figure approaching £50-M. Moyes already had a talented and well-drilled squad to work with and these additions should keep the Hammers competitive in the top half of the table once they gather some momentum.

Scamacca scored his first West Ham goal against Viborg, getting on the end of a Cornet cross and planting a strong header home. The victory over the Danish minnows is nothing to get too excited about but it does giveMoyes options, in the knowledge that his summer recruits have opened their accounts.

Potter’s Brighton continue to progress

The Premier League 2022 betting odds give the Seagulls an excellent chance of getting a result at the London Stadium and that’s no surprise when you consider how Potter’s side have started this campaign.

An opening day win at Old Trafford and a home draw with Newcastle is a pretty good return and Brighton have looked as fluid and well organised as ever.

Veteran midfielder Pascal Gross scored twice in a brilliant first half against Manchester United, first getting on the end of a cross from Danny Welbeck and then knocking in a rebound when David de Gea parried a cross shot from Solly March.

History

In terms of head-to-head matches, Brighton have had five wins to West Ham’s three and there have been seven draws in all competitions since 2004.

The last time the two teams met, the Seagulls won 3-1 at the Amex Stadium back in May as Welbeck, Gross, and Joel Veltman hit back after Michail Antonio had given the Hammers a first half lead.

Earlier in the season, the two teams drew 1-1 at the London Stadium after West Ham had led for 84 minutes, with Tomas Soucek opening the scoring on five minutes and Neal Maupay levelling on 89.

In terms of recent form, the visitors are in the better shape. West Ham were without a victory in six games before their midweek win over Viborg while Brighton have won four of their last six.

And the Hammers’ Europa Conference win on Thursday night was their first at the London Stadium in seven attempts.

Betting Tip

West Ham are at a SBOTOP price of 2.37 to win this clash and the draw is at 3.16 with Brighton at 2.92, and I believe we’re all set up for a tight game.

While the Hammers have home advantage, they have toiled on their own turf in recent times and Moyes has only had three days to prepare his team while Brighton have eight days to work with since their 0-0 draw with Newcastle last Saturday.

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