West Ham vs Brighton Prediction: Seagulls can fly in the capital

West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Fulham at the weekend saw the gap open up between the Hammers and 16th-placed Leeds to seven points and Nuno Espirito Santo's men need to start turning things around if they are to avoid the drop.

They next face Brighton, who have hardly been in the best form themselves and have drifted into the bottom half following a five-game winless run, culminating in the Seagulls' 2-1 defeat against Arsenal last time out. We have picked out the best bets for what should be an intriguing clash between two teams scrapping it out in the bottom half of Premier League.

Team News

West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Lukasz Fabianski and Niclas Fullkrug also look set to miss out through injury.

Kaoru Mitoma is expected to return from illness for Brighton, but they will be without Stefano Tzimas, Adam Webster and Solly March, who all miss out through injury.

Carlos Baleba is also absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Premier League Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

West Ham vs Brighton Odds

Brighton have been installed as 11/10 favourites for the victory, while West Ham are on offer at 9/4 and the draw is available at 13/5.

Over 2.5 goals is available to back at 8/11, while both teams to score is also priced at 8/13 and it is 13/8 for over 1.5 goals in the first half.

Brighton to win @ 11/10

West Ham's season has gone from bad to worse and they are five points from Premier League safety as they host Brighton in this crucial clash.

The Hammers' 1-0 defeat against Fulham last time out was a heartbreaker, with Oliver Scarles' costly late error allowing Raul Jimenez to score the winner.

They have now lost seven of their nine home games this season and look set for more misery when they take on the Seagulls.

Nuno's squad is looking increasingly thin, he only made three substitutions against the Cottagers and there were few options on the bench who could change the game.

Brighton have not been at their best recently, they are on a five-game winless run, but their underlying numbers remain strong and they can take advantage of these struggling opponents.

Danny Welbeck to score anytime @ 7/5

Brighton have arguably been too reliant on Danny Welbeck's goals this season, he has netted seven of their 26 goals, but he looks a solid bet to get on the scoresheet again here.

The veteran striker could take advantage of an Irons defence who have kept just one clean sheet all season.

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