The presence of European football is always cause for excitement amongst football fans, regardless of whether or not their club is involved in it. Both the Champions League and the Europa League represent the pinnacle of club football, not just in the continent, but likely around the world. Still, while that’s all well and good it’s still interesting to take a look at some specific leagues around Europe – and in this instance, we’re going to take a look at what should be an intriguing Premier League encounter between two teams who seem to be heading in opposite directions this season.

We are, of course, referring to Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United. It sounds odd to say that these teams have different trajectories given that they’re situated right next to each other in the league table, but once you analyse the evidence, t soon becomes pretty obvious that they aren’t destined to be involved in the same kind of ‘battle’ throughout the remainder of the campaign. Either way, though, Friday Night Football is an interesting concept that English football appears to be exploring more and more, meaning that this is a great platform for both clubs to try and make a statement.

Any extra seasons in the top flight is viewed as a bonus for Brighton at this stage, given that many pundits felt as if they’d immediately slip back down into the Championship after just one season. Still, that doesn’t mean they can slum it, especially given some of the performances they’ve put in at home over the last twelve months or so. West Ham, on the other hand, are expected to be challenging for the European spots in the not so distant future with their stadium move increasing the pressure on everyone at the club to deliver.

After all, playing in the second tier with a ground like that doesn’t exactly scream ‘success’, which is what makes for such an interesting dynamic in this encounter. It’s not like they’re bitter rivals by any means, but they’re both playing for much more than three points – because sending a message to the rest of the division could wind up being absolutely vital for their success throughout the rest of the season. Of course, we could be just bigging this up far too much for the sake of it, but we’re at a stage where more fans need to appreciate the clubs outside of the top six as well as those in it.

In terms of the form table it’s clear to see that Brighton are coming into this one at something of a disadvantage, with two draws and four losses in their last six games. The first of those two defeats were narrow affairs at the hands of Southampton and Liverpool, with the draws actually being pretty entertaining against Southampton (this time in the league) and Fulham. Alas, recent defeats against Tottenham and Manchester City have dampened their confidence, but they’ve had a tough schedule and this could be a great chance for them to get back on the right track.

West Ham United, on the other hand, are starting to enjoy life under Manuel Pellegrini after some uncertainty in the first few months of his tenure. The 65 year old has steered them to four wins, one draw and one loss in their last six, and it seems as if this could be the start of something special for them. The loss came against the in form Wolverhampton Wanderers with the draw being an impressive one against high flying Chelsea, and the victories over Wimbledon, Everton, Macclesfield and Manchester United proved that they’re able to get the job done in any and all competitions.

The two clubs are no strangers to one another with their first meeting taking place back in 1903, with the Hammers leading the overall head to head standings 18-17 – which showcases how closely the two have mirrored one another throughout history. They’ve also had 14 draws to speak of too, and last season, Brighton certainly had their number as they did the double on West Ham with 3-0 and 3-1 victories. It goes without saying that the home side will do everything in their power to turn those fortunes around, but they’ll have to work pretty hard for it.

Glenn Murray is the obvious danger man for Brighton at this moment in time, and he always seems to feed off of the home crowd which is a great sign for this one. Gross is out injured so will miss the Friday showdown, whereas Stephens and Andone will likely be game day decisions prior to kick off. We can expect Brighton to set themselves up in a standard 4-4-2 formation, and while that may not be overly popular with the fans, it’s a tactic which has paid off for the club in the past.

Over in the away dressing room, the Hammers’ top names appear to be dropping like flies as they adjust to a series of injuries. Reid, Lanzini, Carroll, Sanchez and Wilshere are all suffering from knocks or more severe problems, with Javier Hernandez being a doubt for this one too. Still, they seem to be adapting pretty well to their situation, and it’s almost as if these setbacks have spurred them on. The loss against Wolves would’ve helped, too, because that’s the kind of blueprint that they seem to be trying to replicate after their big spending spree in the summer.

Brighton vs West Ham Betting Prediction

The home crowd is going to be a big factor in this game one way or the other, and it really does depend on how West Ham set themselves up. They need to let them know that they aren’t afraid of the tough style that Brighton will try to implement, but at the same time, they can’t allow themselves to get too over-eager. We can actually see a scenario in which the Seagulls catch West Ham off guard, scoring early on in the game and giving themselves a lead to protect.

Whether that’ll work out for them, though, is a different matter altogether. We think that the Hammers will ease off after the first goal goes in, knowing that they’ve got plenty of time left to break Brighton down. They’ll have to remain alert but we’ve seen them put in big performances against Man United and Chelsea already this season, so as long as they don’t take Brighton likely, they should be okay. We think West Ham will find their equaliser eventually, and while the football on display may not be all too beautiful, it’s going to be an entertaining affair nonetheless.

Receive exclusive betting tips and offers directly to your inbox. Receive exclusive betting tips and offers. SIGN UP