Brighton and Hove Albion welcome Marco Silva’s Fulham to the American Express Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon, looking to pick up their first league victory since September 24th.
Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping to get the better of his counterpart Marco Silva for the first time in his managerial career, when the pair go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon at the AMEX.
The Italian will be looking to out behind his side’s three-game winless run in the league – their last win coming on September 24th as they beat Bournemouth 3-1. The Seagulls sit in seventh place after a mixed start to their season, where they’ve found it hard to juggle participation in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Europa League alongside their numerous injury issues.
The Cottagers have also had a rather shaky start to their Premier League campaign. They come into this fixture off the back of a 2-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, whilst Albion will be full of confidence after they dispatched Dutch giants Ajax on Thursday night in Europe.
The concern for Marco Silva comes at both ends of the pitch. They’ve leaked goals, conceding seventeen so far, and have also failed to replace the heights hit by Aleksander Mitrovic, who departed for Saudi Arabia in the summer. In the opening nine games of this season, Fulham have only found the back of the net on six occasions.
This could set us up for an entertaining battle on Sunday, as Brighton, who are still missing key defensive options have conceded ten goals in their last three league matches.
The Seagulls came through their 2-0 victory on Thursday unscathed, and will have not fresh injury concerns coming into this tie.
Solly March, who was stretchered off with a knee injury during last week’s lost against Manchester City, will, according to Roberto De Zerbi, be missing in action for a “long time.” As will Danny Welbeck, he was also substitued early in that game with a muscle issue.
Pervis Estupinan (thigh) has been back out on the grass at the training ground this week but this fixture will come too soon for both him and Tariq Lamptey (muscle).
Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso (both knee) remain sidelined.
Fulham
The visitors will again be without defensive duo Tosin Adarabioyo (groin) and Issa Diop (thigh), meaning that Calvin Bassey will be given a chance to make amends for his mistakes on Monday night alongside Tim Ream at centre back.
Kenny Tete is still in the treatment room with a groin injury, as is Adama Traore with a muscle issue.
Likely lineups
Brighton and Hove Albion: Steele (GK); Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Igor Julio; Gross, Gilmour; Ansu Fati, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson.
Fulham: Leno (GK); Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukic; Wilson, Iwobi, Willian; Jimenez.
Key players
Brighton and Hove Albion: Joao Pedro
Off the back of a goal in the UEFA Europa League in midweek, Joao Pedro will be crucial if Albion are to pick up their first victory in the league in over a month.
Despite scoring four times in three games on the European stage, the Brazilian has only hit the back of the net twice and recorded one assist in 480 minutes of Premier League action since his move from Watford in the summer.
De Zerbi will be looking to his £30m man to provide creativity and a goal threat If he is selected to start in the role behind Evan Ferguson when the team sheet are handed in on Sunday.