Preview: Southampton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to bring an end to their losing run and ease their relegation concerns when they travel to South Coast rivals Southampton on Sunday.

The Seagulls have lost three in a row and are level on points with the bottom three, while Southampton have also been on a poor run but are seven points better off in 14th.

Match preview

Fulham's shock win away at fallen champions Liverpool last week has made for a thrilling relegation battle, and Brighton are very much now in a fight for Premier League survival.

Graham Potter's men have often been praised for their football this term, but Albion must now accept that wins are desperately required if they are to hold off in-form Fulham.

Brighton are winless in five league games, losing the last three of those, including a 2-1 loss to Leicester City last time out.

Adam Lallana gave the Seagulls an early lead with a rare strike, only for Kelechi Iheanacho and Daniel Amartey to turn things around in the second half at the Amex Stadium.

Fulham's win at Anfield the following day ensures that the gap between the two sides has been completely closed, with Brighton only above the dotted line on goal difference.

However, the Cottagers take on league leaders Manchester City this weekend, whereas Brighton have a favourable fixture against a side just as badly out of form in Southampton.

The Saints may have defeated bottom side Sheffield United on March 6, but that is their only top-flight victory in 11 since beating Liverpool in their opening game of 2021.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's side looked promising in glimpses in Wednesday's trip to Man City, though they ultimately went down 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium - a ninth defeat in 11 games.

From leading the table at one point to looking over their shoulder with 10 games to go, Southampton will know that two more victories may yet be required if they are to survive.

The good news for the Saints is that they are unbeaten in all seven of their Premier League meetings with Brighton - more than they have faced any other side without defeat.

Hasenhuttl's men won December's reverse fixture 2-1 and are seeking a first league double over Brighton since the 2005-06 campaign when the sides were in the Championship.

Southampton Premier League form:

Brighton Premier League form:

Brighton form (all competitions):

Team News

Ibrahima Diallo, Kyle Walker-Peters and Takumi Minamino recovered from injury to start against Sheffield United last week, but all three dropped out of the side to face Man City.

Hasenhuttl should recall the trio for this match, which takes priority over the trip to the Etihad Stadium, while Nathan Tella is another in line for a return to the starting XI.

That should be in place of Moussa Djenepo, who suffered an injury in midweek to join Danny Ings, Theo Walcott, William Smallbone, Oriol Romeu and Michael Obafemi on the sidelines.

Brighton have a number of injury issues of their own to contend with as Jose Izquierdo, Florin Andone, Solly March, Adam Webster and Tariq Lamptey have all been ruled out.

Aaron Connolly missed the loss to Leicester but has a chance of being fit for this weekend's clash.

Lallana's goal against the Foxes was his first in the Premier League in 503 days, though he has not found the net in back-to-back league games since December 2016.

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Forster; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Armstrong, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Minamino; Adams, Tella

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; Veltman, White, Dunk, Burn; Mac Allister, Bissouma, Gross; Trossard, Lallana; Maupay

We say: Southampton 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton need to quickly arrest their slump if they are to remain above the relegation zone following a run of three losses in a row and no win in five.

The Saints have also struggled for victories in 2021, winning just one of their last 11 league matches, and could be dragged into a relegation scrap with defeat on Sunday.

All three of Brighton's Premier League games at St Mary's have finished level, and we can see this latest contest between the sides ending the same way.

Top tip

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