Brighton won’t be relishing a trip to Leeds on Saturday as Graham Potter’s side desperately need to start picking up points.
Leeds to Press Seagulls Into Submission
Brighton have earned plenty of plaudits for their style of play, adopting a possession-based approach since Graham Potter was appointed at the start of last season.
Potter led the Seagulls to 15th last term, seven points clear of the drop zone, but it looks like things will be much tighter for them at the bottom in 2020-21.
Teams appear to have worked out how to get at the south coast club and they have been restricted to just two victories in their opening 18 games.
Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at Manchester City extended their winless league run to nine matches and they were lucky not to receive a thumping at the Etihad as the hosts passed up several big chances.
City pressed high and forced Brighton into mistake after mistake in their own defensive third and Leeds are likely to employ the same tactics at Elland Road.
The Whites are also looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Crawley in the FA Cup, although their form at home in the league has been good of late.
Leeds, who are attractively priced at 6/5 to pick up all three points, have won each of their last two outings in West Yorkshire, beating Newcastle and Burnley and their high-energy pressing game should see them prevail on Saturday.
Cottagers Can Frustrate Chelsea
Fulham have been the most improved side in the first half of the Premier League campaign, with few giving them much hope of surviving after failing to win any of their opening six games.
But Scott Parker’s men have found their feet recently and Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham was their fifth in succession.
They have also drawn with Liverpool and Southampton during that sequence and are edging closer towards safety, sitting two points adrift of 17th-placed Brighton with two games in hand.
Chelsea head to Craven Cottage without a win in three after losses against Arsenal and Manchester City either side of a draw against Aston Villa.
The Blues have enjoyed success during recent visits to Fulham, coming out on top in each of the last three, but with the hosts looking resolute and well-organised they are an interesting 31/20 in the double chance market.
Hammers to Hold Burnley at Bay
West Ham will hope to boost their hopes of competing for a European berth at the expense of struggling Burnley on Saturday.
They start this weekend’s round of fixtures four points adrift of sixth-placed Tottenham and recent form suggests they will have too much for relegation-threatened Burnley.
The Clarets have given their survival chances a shot in the arm with two wins from their last four outings but both of those results came at home.
Sean Dyche’s men look to be lacking punch in the final third, scoring a joint-low nine goals and registering just four times on their travels.
The return of Michail Antonio over the last couple of weeks only further strengthens the argument for West Ham coming out on top, while they have also kept clean sheets in their last three across all competitions.
West Ham can be backed at 39/20 to win to nil when they face Burnley in the 15:00 kick off at the London Stadium.
*All odds correct at time of writing
