Premier League

Brighton vs Southampton prediction

This weekend’s Premier League action concludes on the south coast on Monday night as Southampton travel along the coast to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Saints’ great form came to a dramatic end last weekend when they let slip of a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 2-3 at home to Manchester United. Prior to that, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side had taken 17 points from a possible 21.

Victory for Southampton would give them the chance to move back into the top four if results go their way over the weekend.

As for Brighton & Hove Albion, they have won just one of their last eight Premier League games, though their last two results have been respectable – drawing 1-1 versus Liverpool and winning 2-1 at Aston Villa. Other than that, I have not been too impressed by the Seagulls in the opening couple of months, drawing at home to both West Bromwich Albion and Burnley.

Southampton may not look much on paper but they’re tactically astute under the Austrian manager and have a top striker in Danny Ings. They are also a dangerous threat from set pieces, with James Ward-Prowse taking and the likes of Jannik Vestergaard and Jan Bednarek coming up from centre-back to get no the end of them.

The bookmakers have made the hosts the favourites for this match based on each side’s last result – Brighton scoring a late equaliser to grab a point versus Liverpool and Southampton being the latest victim of Manchester United’s second half turnaround, losing to a late Edinson Cavani goal. Aside from that, Southampton have been playing much the better football of these two and as a result I expect them to avoid defeat at the AMEX Stadium on Monday, if not pick up all three points.

Best bet: Lay Brighton at 2.6 with Betfair
Value bet: Back Southampton at 3.0 with Bet-at-Home