MY ACCOUNT
– Leeds have slipped to 17th after winning only one of their last 11 Premier League matches
– Brighton are unbeaten in five away games
– Recommended bet: Brighton to win
Brighton put a couple of frustrating results behind them with an excellent performance in their 4-0 demolition of West Ham last weekend, and Roberto De Zerbi’s men will now eye up a trip to Leeds as a chance to build momentum.
With Leeds, only one point above bottom-of-the-table Bournemouth, new Whites manager Javi Gracia will be aware of the urgent need to follow up his debut success against Southampton in Leeds’ last Elland Road outing.
However, that will not be easy against a Brighton side who have been ruthless against the lesser sides this term, taking 22 points from a possible 24 against teams in the bottom six and scoring an average of 2.75 goals per game in those matches.
Team news
Leeds striker Rodrigo is not expected back from his ankle injury until next month, and the same is true of Adam Forshaw, who is recovering from a groin strain.
However, striker Patrick Bamford could return this weekend, and there is an outside chance of winger Luis Sinisterra and centre-back Liam Cooper recovering in time for the arrival of Brighton.
Brighton midfielders Adam Lallana and Jakub Moder will likely miss the rest of the 2022-23 campaign, but centre-back Levi Colwill is closing in on a return to fitness after two months out.
Full-back Tariq Lamptey is rated 50/50 after having to come off early with a knee injury last weekend against West Ham.
The stats
Leeds have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games and just five of 25 league matches all season, losing 13. While the Whites have lost only four of those at Elland Road, all four came at teams placed seventh or higher.
While Brighton are currently eighth, having played as many as three games fewer than those around them, they are seventh on points per game.
The Seagulls are also unbeaten in their five Premier League meetings with Leeds, winning three and conceding just one goal in those five matches.
Roberto De Zerbi’s men had failed to take their chances in recent weeks, but last weekend’s 4-0 defeat of West Ham proved they have learned their lessons.
Prediction
Before Brighton’s demolition of West Ham, De Zerbi’s men had been playing well throughout but failed to take their chances.
That run of just four goals and five points from four league matches was emphatically put right in the 4-0 rout of the Hammers, and De Zerbi’s previously struggling frontline should take confidence from that goalscoring display.
But the best bet is to back Brighton against a Leeds side who battled well in defeat to Chelsea last weekend but were unable to score, making it four defeats in five in all competitions, including a potentially costly loss to fellow strugglers Everton.
Back Brighton to win, available at 19/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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