Brighton vs Fulham Predictions

• Fulham’s record against sides outside of the top five is 10 wins and one defeat from 16 games
• Brighton are unbeaten in nine home meetings with promoted sides, but over half of those have been drawn
• The Seagulls have faced Fulham without winning than any other side in their top-flight history
• Solly March has scored five times across his last seven Premier League appearances

European dreams for pair

When these two sides met in January 2021, they were two of the Premier League’s bottom four. Just over two years on, the pair are in the top seven and pushing for European football.

These two sides come into Saturday’s clash with 35 points apiece, leaving them on course for a European adventure next term. The fact they’re just six points shy of the Champions League spots shows just how impressive the pair have been this term, but can either close that gap to three at the Amex this weekend?

Two manager of the season contenders?

Given the season both teams have had, these two managers will be hard to ignore when it comes to picking out a coach of the season. Marco Silva hasn’t entirely convinced in the Premier League in his career but he’s led Fulham to 10 Premier League victories this season, with only Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Tottenham winning more.

Meanwhile, Roberto De Zerbi took over mid-season, kept a high-flying Brighton side competitive and made big changes to their style of play. Just look at Solly March, who has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League games. That’s more than he had in his first 156 appearances in the top-flight (4). March is netting once every 263 minutes on average under the Italian, compared to once every 2343 minutes under Chris Hughton/Graham Potter.

March has scored all five of those from open play, just like fellow in-form winger Kaoru Mitoma. Both are real threats to a Fulham defence which has conceded 67% of their goals from open play, with March getting the nod as our anytime goalscorer prediction.

Tough test for Brighton

Brighton are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League home games against promoted sides, but they’ve drawn the majority of those clashes. This also isn’t the ideal clash for the Seagulls, as they have faced Fulham more often without ever winning than they have any other opponent in the Premier League.

This doesn’t seem like a great match for the hosts, given that they have conceded a league-high share 46.4% of their goals from set-pieces (13/28). Fulham look like a real threat for them, considering that no side has scored more goals from set-piece situations in the Premier League this season than the Cottagers (15).

Fulham have lost only eight of 23 league games this season and seven of those have come against the top five. Their record against the rest of the Premier League is W10 D5 L1, while they meet a Brighton side who have failed to win half their home games this term. Back the visitors to avoid defeat, with a 1-1 draw my correct score prediction.

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