Brighton are preparing to welcome Brentford to the Amex in what promises to be one of the standout Premier League fixtures of the weekend, with both sides riding considerable momentum heading into the match.
Seagulls flying high after Manchester City scalp
Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton side have been among the most compelling stories in the Premier League this season. Last weekend, they secured a 1-0 victory at Manchester City — a result that cemented their place third in the table and strengthened their case as genuine Champions League contenders.
The win at Manchester City was no outlier. Brighton had already dismantled champions Arsenal 3-0 back in September, meaning they have now beaten both title favourites without conceding a single goal. Heading into this fixture, they were the Premier League's top scorers with 24 goals, while their defence had shipped just seven — the second-fewest in the division.
The only complication for Hurzeler is a fixture congestion issue. Brighton secured a 1-0 away win against Spanish club Getafe in the Conference League fewer than 72 hours before this match, which could prompt the German manager to rotate his squad. On the positive side, Ferdi Kadioglu is edging closer to a return from injury, with Femi Azeez and Pascal Struijk also nearing full fitness.
Brentford's flying start continues
Brentford arrive having lost just once in the Premier League all season — a record no other team in the division can match. The Bees sit five points behind Brighton, though they might have closed the gap further had they converted more of their five draws into victories.
Last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest was only their third league win of the campaign, but Brazilian striker Igor Thiago looks to have rediscovered his best form at the right time, netting in each of the past two games. Brentford report no new injury concerns, although Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva are both expected to remain unavailable until after the international break.
How to watch
The match kicks off at 2:00pm GMT. Viewers in the United Kingdom can follow the action on Sky Sports, while fans in the United States can stream the game on Peacock from 9:00am ET. Australian supporters can tune in on Stan Sport, with kick-off set for 1:00am AEDT on Monday.
