Match Preview
Brighton & Hove Albion vrs Fulham
Premier League Match Day 24 22/23 at Amex Stadium
Saturday 18th February 2023 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
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Two surprise packages battling to qualify for Europe will face off in the Premier League on Saturday, as Fulham visit Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
The two teams are level on 35 points in the top-flight standings, with the Seagulls in sixth sitting just above seventh-placed Fulham on goal difference.
After failing to win three successive Premier League games against Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, Fulham returned to winning ways with a routine 2-0 success at home against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
A stunning opener from Willian in the first half was followed by a late second-half strike from substitute Manor Solomon to help the Cottagers claim their 10th top-flight victory of the season – twice as many as they won in their last Premier League season in 2020-21.
Like Brighton, Marco Silva's men have exceeded expectations this term and the club's supporters are dreaming of a return to Europe for the first time since losing the Europa League final against Atletico Madrid in 2009-10.
Fulham boast the best points tally (35) for a promoted team after their first 23 matches of a top-flight season since Wigan Athletic (37) 17 years ago, and the Cottagers are on course to match or better their highest-ever Premier League finish of seventh place in the 2008-09 campaign.
If Fulham are to breach Brighton's backline on Saturday, they may have to rely on their expertise from set-pieces as no other Premier League team has scored more goals from dead-ball situations than the Cottagers (15) so far this season, while the Seagulls have conceded a league-high 46.4% of their goals from set-pieces (13 out of 28).
Silva's side have already beaten Brighton this season, claiming a 2-1 home victory back in August, and another three points secured this weekend would see them complete the double over the South-coast outfit for the first time since 1992-93 when they were competing in the third tier of English football.
The use of VAR in the Premier League was once again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the weekend, and a "human error" prevented Brighton from claiming all three points in the M23 derby against Crystal Palace.
Pervis Estupinan was denied his first Brighton goal midway through the first half, after VAR official John Brooks incorrectly drew the wrong line to award an offside decision against the Ecuadorian, and the Seagulls were eventually held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park despite boasting 75% possession and 17 shots on goal.
Palace defender James Tomkins capitalised on a goalkeeping error from Robert Sanchez to head home a 69th-minute equaliser, just six minutes after Solly March had put Brighton in front with a close-range volley.
Nevertheless, Roberto De Zerbi's men have extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches in 2023, and they are just six points behind the Champions League positions having played a game less than Newcastle United in fourth.
Brighton, who have scored more Premier League goals (24) than any other team across the last 10 fixtures, head into Saturday's encounter having won each of their last three home games in all competitions, including two impressive victories over Liverpool.
However, extending their winning home streak to four matches could prove challenging, as they have failed to win any of their previous five Premier League meetings with Fulham, drawing three times and losing twice.
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Fulham are unbeaten in all five of their Premier League fixtures with Brighton.
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The Seagulls have faced Fulham more often without winning a Premier League game than any other opponent.
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The Cottagers are looking to complete their first league double over Brighton since the 1992-93 season in the third tier.
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Fulham's tally of 35 points is the most by a newly-promoted side after 23 games of a Premier League season since Wigan's 37 in 2005-06.
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Only the two Manchester clubs have earned more points since the Premier League resumed after the World Cup than Fulham's 16.
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Their 10 top-flight wins this season is double the amount they managed in their previous top-flight campaign.
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A fifth Premier League away win of 2022-23 would equal their highest tally in a season, set in 2003-04.
Brighton are the only Premier League side still unbeaten in all competitions in 2023, having won five and drawn two of their seven matches this year.
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Albion can equal the club top-flight record of three successive home victories, which they last managed in November 2019.
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Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs have scored more top-flight goals than Brighton's 39 this season. The Seagulls need only four goals to surpass their previous highest tally in a Premier League campaign, set last season.
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The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League home games against promoted sides and have kept a clean sheet in each of the last
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Source Oliver Thomas at SportsMole/BBC Sports