Brighton & Hove Albion return to the Amex Stadium on Sunday, December 7, for a crucial Premier League clash against West Ham United. The Seagulls are looking to bounce back after a dramatic 4-3 home defeat to Aston Villa in midweek, a result that saw them slip to seventh in the table. Despite that setback, Roberto De Zerbi’s side remain just one point off the top four and continue to impress with their attacking football. West Ham, on the other hand, are struggling near the bottom of the standings and desperately need points to climb out of the relegation zone. This fixture promises goals and intensity, with both teams known for their open style of play.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Brighton’s midweek loss to Aston Villa was their first home league defeat of the season, ending a strong run at the Amex. The Seagulls had led 2-0 before conceding four times, exposing defensive vulnerabilities that De Zerbi will be eager to address. Still, their overall form remains positive: three wins, one draw, and one defeat in their last five matches, averaging 2.0 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game. Over the course of the season, Brighton have recorded six wins, four draws, and four losses, scoring an average of 1.7 goals per match while conceding 1.4.

The Amex has been a reliable fortress, with Brighton winning four of their seven home league games. Their matches have been consistently entertaining — Over 1.5 goals have been scored in each of their last 15 home fixtures, and Over 0.5 goals in the second half have occurred in all of them. In fact, 28 of their last 29 Premier League games have featured at least two goals, underlining their attacking nature but also their defensive openness.

In terms of personnel, Danny Welbeck is expected to return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against Villa. The experienced forward has been in fine form this season and particularly enjoys facing West Ham, having scored six goals against them — his best record against any Premier League opponent. Stefanos Tzimas remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Kaoru Mitoma, Tommy Watson, and Georgino Rutter are doubtful. Yasin Ayari could return to the squad, offering De Zerbi more options in midfield.

West Ham United’s Recent Form and Key Stats

West Ham United’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Thursday was a morale-boosting result, but it wasn’t enough to lift them out of the relegation zone. The Hammers are currently 18th, two points from safety, and face a challenging December schedule that includes fixtures against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and a reverse meeting with Brighton. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws, and one defeat in their last five matches, averaging 1.8 goals scored and 1.6 conceded per game. However, their away record remains poor, with no wins in their last five league trips.

David Moyes’ side have been involved in high-scoring encounters lately — Over 1.5 goals have been scored in each of their last 23 matches, and both teams have found the net in five of their last six. Away from home, the trend continues: all of their last 12 away league games have produced at least two goals, with Over 0.5 goals in the second half in every one of them. Despite their attacking potential, defensive lapses have cost them dearly, and they have conceded an average of 2.0 goals per game this season.

For this match, Lucas Paquetá returns from suspension and is expected to reclaim his place in midfield, possibly replacing Tomas Soucek. Callum Wilson, who has scored five times against Brighton in his career, will lead the attack. However, Igor Julio is ineligible to play against his parent club, while Crysencio Summerville is doubtful. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and youngster Oliver Scarles remain unavailable.

Brighton vs West Ham: Tactical Overview and Analysis

This fixture has often delivered goals, and the recent head-to-head record supports that trend. Brighton have won two, drawn two, and lost one of their last five meetings with West Ham, averaging 1.8 goals scored and 1.2 conceded. Their most recent encounter ended 3-2 in April 2025, another high-scoring affair that showcased both sides’ attacking intent. Brighton’s fluid offensive play, led by Welbeck and supported by creative midfielders, will test a West Ham defense that has struggled to contain quick transitions and wide attacks.

For West Ham, the key will be maintaining compactness and exploiting counterattacks through Paquetá’s creativity and Wilson’s movement. However, their defensive frailties, especially away from home, could again be exposed by Brighton’s relentless pressing and overlapping full-backs. The Seagulls’ challenge will be to maintain concentration after taking the lead — something they failed to do twice this season when leading 2-0 at home.

Given both teams’ recent scoring patterns and defensive vulnerabilities, another open and entertaining match is expected at the Amex. Brighton will look to reassert their dominance at home, while West Ham will fight to escape the relegation zone. The combination of attacking quality and defensive inconsistency on both sides makes goals almost inevitable.

Brighton vs West Ham prediction by BetMines:
The most likely outcome is Both Teams To Score (Yes) with a 51% probability.