High-flying Brighton head to the English capital to take on Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday, and we’ve got the latest team news and confirmed lineups, as well as a score prediction alongside our preview.
Fulham vs Brighton Preview
Marco Silva and his Fulham side welcome Premier League high-flyers Brighton to Craven Cottage on Thursday evening, where the pair will be looking to get back to winning ways after draws in Gameweek 13.
The Cottagers, who were reduced to 10-men late on, came from behind to secure a crucial point away at Tottenham last time out, which was a much improved performance on their heavy 4-1 defeat to Wolves in the game prior.
That unprecedented loss is the only defeat the West London outfit have suffered in their last five league matches. It’s a run that includes 2-0 and 2-1 victories over Crystal Palace and Brentford, as well as a 1-1 draw with Everton.
Heading into Gameweek 14, Fulham occupy 10th place in the English top-flight table on 19 points, meanwhile, the Seagulls are up in fourth, ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham, on 23 points.
The Seagulls come to SW6.#FULBRI pic.twitter.com/ryupTOXc0A
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 3, 2024
Fabian Hurzeler’s side have suffered just two league defeats thus far this term and come into this one enjoying a three-game unbeaten run, beating City and Bournemouth in GW11 and GW12, before playing out a 1-1 draw with bottom of the table Southampton last time out.
Despite an impressive rise since being promoted to the Premier League, Brighton have struggled against Fulham historically, as they are without a win against them in eight straight competitive matches since 2017.
The first of two meetings last season ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the Amex, with their second clash ending in a comfortable 3-0 victory for the Cottagers courtesy of goals from Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traore.
Fulham Team News
Silva will have to make do without suspended midfield duo Tom Cairney and Sasa Lukic, while Harrison Reed (knee), Joachim Andersen (calf) and Jorge Cuenca (knock) are ruled out through injury.
Ryan Sessegnon (unspecified) is also a major doubt for the Seagulls’ visit.
It is also unknown whether Andreas Pereira will be involved after the Brazilian was omitted from Fulham’s squad to face Tottenham on Sunday.
Brighton Team News
As for the visitors, they are without Solly March (fitness), Ferdi Kadioglu (ankle), Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and James Milner (thigh) due to their respective injury concerns.
Joel Veltman (muscular) and Brajan Gruda (illness), meanwhile, are doubts.
In more positive news though, Hurzeler is able to welcome back Carlos Baleba from suspension after the Cameroonian served his one-match ban against Southampton at the weekend.
Fulham vs Brighton Confirmed Lineups
Fulham Confirmed Lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Nelson; Muniz
Brighton Confirmed Lineup:
Verbruggen; Igor, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Wieffer, O’Riley; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma
Fulham vs Brighton Prediction
The UK’s best football betting sites favour the hosts to prevail at Craven Cottage on Thursday night, but we at SportsCasting are backing a score draw.
Fulham’s record against Brighton in recent seasons is nothing short of incredible, and while the Seagulls have impressed with standout wins over Manchester City, Tottenham and Newcastle this term, we expect this record to be maintained.
Raul Jimenez and co. should cause problems for the visitors, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last six, and equally, the likes of Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro, Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter will be an issue at the other end, especially as the Cottagers are without the injured Andersen.
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Brighton
