Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

Still seeking their first away victory of the campaign, basement club Burnley will travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Seagulls, meanwhile, have won only one of their last eight top-flight home matches, and are yet to claim maximum points in front of their own fans in 2022.

Match preview

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Brighton's seven-game unbeaten league run came to an end on Tuesday night when they were beaten 2-0 away at Manchester United.

After a goalless first half, in which the Seagulls had the upper hand, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock six minutes after the break, before Lewis Dunk was dismissed three minutes later for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Anthony Elanga. Bruno Fernandes then wrapped up the three points for the hosts in added time, condemning the visitors to just their fifth league defeat of the season.

Graham Potter's men remain in the top half of the Premier League, sitting in ninth place and only four points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers in seventh, who currently occupy the final European spot.

Brighton have established a reputation as draw specialists this season, with 12 already to their name – more than any other team in the division – but their first of seven victories this season came at Turf Moor against Burnley back in August, with Neal Maupay and Alexis Mac Allister scoring in the final 20 minutes to help the Seagulls win 2-1.

Eight of the last 12 league games between Brighton and Burnley have finished level, but Potter's men will be hoping to complete their first league double over the Clarets since the 2012-13 Championship campaign.

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Burnley extended their unwanted run without a Premier League win to 11 games when they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home against Liverpool last weekend.

A close-range tap in from Fabinho on the stroke of half time was enough to separate the two teams and condemn the Clarets to their ninth league defeat this term.

Sean Dyche's side remain at the foot of the table, with only one win from their 21 league matches, and they sit seven points adrift from safety, albeit with at least two games in hand on the three teams above them.

Plenty of positives can be taken from the two draws played out against both Arsenal and Manchester United in recent weeks, but with the likes of Newcastle United, Everton and Norwich City all turning a corner, Dyche's men will soon need to turn those individual points into three if they are to keep pace and potentially leapfrog their relegation rivals.

Burnley are one of only two teams in the top four tiers of English football without a league win away from home this season, along with Championship outfit Barnsley.

The Clarets have accumulated just five points from a possible 33 available on the road this season, which is the lowest of any team in the top flight, but having claimed eight points from their last five league visits to the Amex Stadium – including four draws and one win – Dyche's side will be confident of success this weekend.

Team News

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Brighton will be without suspended captain Dunk, so either Joel Veltman or Shane Duffy will likely start alongside Adam Webster at centre-back, while Enock Mwepu and Jeremy Sarmiento are both sidelined with injuries.

Veltman started at right-back against Man United, but if he is not selected to play in that position or in central defence on Saturday, then he could drop out of the first XI for full-back Tariq Lamptey.

Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck, who both began on the bench at Old Trafford, will be hoping to force their way into the starting lineup, but Jakub Moder and Leandro Trossard may retain their places in midfield and attack respectively.

As for Burnley, January signing Wout Weghorst was forced off in the final 20 minutes against Liverpool with a knock and is doubtful this weekend, while Charlie Taylor, Maxwel Cornet and Ashley Barnes will also be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Dyche has revealed that Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Matej Vydra are making good progress in their recoveries from respective stomach and hernia injuries, but the pair are still a few weeks away from full fitness.

Connor Roberts, who has started each of the last four matches, is set to continue at right-back ahead of Matt Lowton, while Dwight McNeil will be looking to force his way back into the first XI ahead of either Cornet or Aaron Lennon.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Lamptey, Duffy, Webster, Cucurella; Bissouma; Moder, Gross; Mac Allister; Trossard, Maupay

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Pope; Roberts, Mee, Tarkowski, Pieters; McNeil, Westwood, Brownhill, Cornet; Barnes, Rodriguez

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Burnley

Dyche is under increased pressure to turn Burnley's fortunes around, but with the potential absence of target man Weghorst, they may struggle to carve out or convert their chances on Saturday.

Brighton, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back from their midweek defeat and having already beaten the Clarets this season, they will be the favourites to claim maximum points on home soil.

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