Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton will look to return to winning ways this weekend as they clash at the AMEX in a game that could see the two clubs switch around in the Premier League in the fight for the top half.
With safety in the division long secured and a fight for Europe never really in the question, the aim for both southern sides here is to end up inside the top 10 after recent defeats in midweek brought Newcastle United and Brentford into the question for this battle between clubs from 12th-9th.
Last time out against #SaintsFC... 😏🔥 pic.twitter.com/OQInxYdWWN— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) April 22, 2022
Last time out against #SaintsFC... 😏🔥 pic.twitter.com/OQInxYdWWN
The Saints have struggled a bit in recent weeks, and despite racking up a great win at home to Arsenal just last weekend, a 2-0 loss to Burnley in midweek was a reminder of how tight the bottom half of the table is right now.
Moreover, Ralph Hasenhüttl's men face of with Crystal Palace, Brentford, and Leicester City in their final three games of the season, meaning their fate to finish in the top 10 is well in their hands - they simply just have to win these games and they'll likely better their 2019/20 finish of 11th.
You never really know what you're going to get with this Southampton side, as during March, they lost 4-0 to Aston Villa, then 2-1 to both Newcastle and Watford. Then, in early April, a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea came, a week before that Arsenal win.
Brighton, however, saw their excellent form of the last few weeks end in midweek when they lost to Manchester City at the Etihad 3-0. Prior to this, the Seagulls racked up back-to-back wins in north London as they edged past both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur within seven days of each other.
These results have sent Brighton into 10th this season, and unless they dramatically fall off a cliff in the final few weeks of the campaign, they are set to register their highest finish in Premier League history.
On the other hand, they have only 40 points after 33 games, which at this stage of the season and in this area of the table, is far from impressive. Graham Potter's men have also become the masters of getting a draw this season, and with their 13 this league season, no club has racked up more.
At the same time, however, Southampton have 12 draws on record from 33 games, and it's clear to see where this one is heading. Forebet predicts a draw here on the south coast, and for the game to see under 2.5 goals.