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Brighton vs West Ham: Can David Moyes' overachievers qualify for Europe?

With big-guns Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton all chasing can West Ham keep a grip on fifth place?

When: Saturday, May 15, 20:00 GMT

How to watch: Sky Sports

Best bets

Michail Antonio to score anytime at 2/1 (BetVictor)

Both teams to score and West Ham to win at 4/1 (Bet365)

West Ham to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 at 8/1 (Sky Bet)

Can West Ham keep their cool?

The Hammers have undoubtedly overachieved this season, but to be in the position they find themselves in and not qualify for Europe would now be a disappointment.

David Moyes has recruited excellently, bringing in players such as Jesse Lingard (on loan), Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Craig Dawson and Jarrod Bowen to help them challenge in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

West Ham's remaining three games should also give Moyes' and his players confidence of securing the fifth spot that they currently occupy.

West Ham's remaining fixtures:

Brighton (A)
West Brom (A)
Southampton (H)
Southampton and Brighton are 14th and 17th respectively and West Brom have already suffered relegation, so these three clubs have very little to play for at this stage in the season.
If West Ham can keep their key players fit until the end of the campaign, they will have a strong chance of securing a maximum nine points in these fixtures.

Last three Premier League meetings:

West Ham 2-2 Brighton (December 27, 2020)

An entertaining match saw West Ham nick a point at the death when these two sides last met.
Neal Maupay responded to defensive indecisiveness with a sharp first-time finish to put Brighton 1-0 up, but a first West Ham goal for defender Ben Johnson, who again scored after poor defensive play, levelled the scores.
A quickly taken corner was the Hammers' downfall for Brighton's next goal when Lewis Dunk was given two chances to score, the second of which he accepted by smashing in with his right foot from close range.
One of West Ham's key players this season, Tomas Soucek, stepped up when it mattered and his header earned them a point.

West Ham 3-3 Brighton (February 1, 2020)

Another thriller between the two sides delivered six goals last year, with Brighton fighting back from 3-1 down to draw.
Issa Diop put the Hammers a goal up and Robert Snodgrass added to the lead before half time.
Brighton responded shortly after the break when Lukasz Fabianski punched the ball off Angelo Ogbonna's shoulder and into his own goal, before Snodgrass got his second of the game from outside the box to put Moyes' men 3-1 to the good.
The away side battled back, though, with Pascal Gross pulling them to within one goal of their opponents and the comeback was complete when Glenn Murray scored with the benefit of VAR.

Brighton 1-1 West Ham (August 17, 2019)

Leandro Trossard marked his Premier League debut with a fine equaliser to cancel out Javier Hernandez's opener in this one.
It was a deserved reward for Trossard after he had already had a goal ruled out by VAR and helped Graham Potter to a point in his first game at the AMEX Stadium.
West Ham created little and Brighton had multiple chances but were ultimately forced to settle for a draw.

Premier League head-to-head

Played: 7

Brighton wins: 3

Draws: 4

West Ham wins: 0

Brighton scored: 15

West Ham scored: 9

Will West Ham end their Brighton hoodoo?

The last four meetings between the two sides have ended in draws and West Ham are yet to defeat Saturday's opponents in seven attempts in the Premier League.
Considering the contrasting fortunes of the two teams this season, West Ham will be in a positive mood and expecting to end their wretched run against the South Coast team.
The Hammers were second best against Everton last week, but that could be considered a rare off-day for this season and there is no reason why they will not quickly bounce back.
Before that blip, West Ham defeated a resurgent Burnley outfit 2-1 at Turf Moor with Michail Antonio bagging a brace.
Brighton went down 2-1 to Wolves in a disappointing collapse in their last game which saw Lewis Dunk score and get sent off and Neal Maupay also being shown a red card for dissent after the final whistle had blown.
Although 17th in the league, Brighton are safe from the drop with Fulham's loss against Burnley condemning them to relegation.

Scoreline prediction: Brighton 1-3 West Ham

Meetings between the two are usually filled with drama and this could be no different.
West Ham are desperate for a win and if they play to the standard they have set for the majority of this season, The Seagulls will be no match.
Brighton are light in defence without Lewis Dunk and possibly Joel Veltman and with Michail Antonio back in the West Ham line-up, he and his team's other attacking players offer plenty of threat.
West Ham are susceptible to set pieces and that seems Brighton's best chance of getting on the scoresheet, though the away team are expected to take all three points.

Goalscorer bets

As previously mentioned, Michail Antonio is back fit for his team and will be a major boost after playing well all season.
The troublesome frontman is 2/1 to add to his nine league goals and make it into double figures for the first time in the Premier League.
Tomas Soucek has been in superb form and is always a danger for the opposition.
The tall midfielder is 17/5 to score with Unibet.

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