Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Aston Villa to the Amex Stadium for their opening fixture of the 2026-27 Premier League season on Sunday afternoon.
The Seagulls finished eighth in the top flight last season while the Lions secured fourth spot, and here, Sports Mole rounds up all the latest team news for the two clubs.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs. ASTON VILLA
BRIGHTON
Out: Carlos Baleba (ankle/set to leave club), Yankuba Minteh (leg), Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring), Stefanos Tzimas (knee), Evan Ferguson (ankle)
Doubtful: None
Sports Mole's predicted XI: Verbruggen; Weiffer, Dunk, Vuskovic, Kadioglu; Ayari, Gross; Gomez, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper; Rutter
ASTON VILLA
Out: Amadou Onana (knee), Johan Manzambi (knee), Joao Gomes (calf), Brian Madjo (unspecified), Leon Bailey (muscle)
Doubtful: Tammy Abraham (knock), Alejandro Garnacho (concussion), Ollie Watkins (other)
Sports Mole's predicted XI: Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Hemmings; McGinn, Barkley, Buendia; Watkins