English Premier
2026-01-03 - Brighton vs Burnley
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 3rd January 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Brighton
Another Premier League fixture played without a victory will have frustrated Fabian Hurzeler, especially as Brighton contributed heavily in shooting themselves in the foot in the 2-2 draw at West Ham United. The manager will be hoping the change in the calendar year can change the Brighton fortunes and get them moving back up in a positive direction.
They have dropped down to 14th in the Premier League table, although Brighton are still firmly in touch with those teams chasing European Football as we move into the second half of the season. Too many draws has been an issue holding Brighton back and that includes at the Amex Stadium where they have a 4-4-1 record.
Brighton have failed to win any of the last 6 Premier League games, although 3 of those have ended in draws. The Seagulls are now winless in 3 in a row at home, and Brighton have been struggling for consistency in the final third in those recent setbacks.
Mats Wieffer is expected to sit out, while Yankuba Minteh is a doubt.
Burnley
After picking up a couple of points in draws against Bournemouth and Everton, Scott Parker must have been very disappointed in how Burnley began the Premier League fixture against Newcastle United. They were 0-2 down at home very quickly and that was always going to be a difficult mountain to climb from that position for a team that have struggled at this level for much of the season.
They are 19th in the Premier League table and 6 points behind Nottingham Forest outside of the relegation zone so this feels like a vital month coming up for Burnley. Improved results are needed, but the manager may also be hoping the board back him in the transfer window to bring in higher quality players to help in the survival bid.
Burnley have not won any of their last 10 games and they have been beaten in 8 of those, which has seen them slump into the current position in the table. They did find a late goal to draw 1-1 at Bournemouth in the last away Premier League fixture and that is a result that ended a run of 3 defeats in a row on their travels.
Joe Worrall and Maxime Esteve could be available, but there are a host of players missing, which is only stretching Scott Parker's options. Zian Flemming picked up a knock and is also a doubt for this long trip to the South Coast.
Head to Head
Two seasons ago, both Premier League fixtures between these clubs finished 1-1.
The draw here means Brighton have not won any of the last 7 home games played against Burnley.
Prediction
This is a tough Premier League fixture to call because neither Brighton nor Burnley are in great form.
For all of the threat posed by Brighton, recent games have seen them struggle for the composure needed to win football matches. That was summed up by Danny Welbeck trying to be far too clever with a Penalty that would have given Brighton the lead at the London Stadium on Tuesday and ultimately led to a 2-2 draw.
Fabian Hurzeler will not be panicking too much with the recent form, but will demand his Brighton players refocus and they should have more chances against this Burnley team.
Scott Parker's men had earned back to back Premier League draws before the 1-3 loss to Newcastle United, but Burnley are looking short of the quality needed to survive. The manager is under some pressure, but he may be more focused on seeing if the Burnley board will back him in the January transfer window to bring in reinforcements for a squad stretched by injury.
The last time Burnley headed down to the South Coast, they scored late in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, but they rode their luck in that fixture.
In recent matches Burnley have shown a bit more going forward, but the balancing act has been tough and those outings have also seen the team give up some high quality chances.
While it is tough to trust these mid-table Premier League teams from match to match, Brighton should finally have enough to get back to winning ways in a match they likely need to score twice.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Brighton 2-1 Burnley
