Brighton vs West Bromwich Albion
The American Express Community Stadium, East Sussex
Monday, 26-10-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Brighton have won just one of their 10 top-flight games against West Brom (D5, L4). The Baggies’ last league win away to the Seagulls was 3-0 in the second tier in April 1990.
Brighton are without captain Lewis Dunk, who begins a three-game ban, but Danny Welbeck could make his debut after joining last weekend. Alireza Jahanbakhsh is doubtful with a hamstring problem, while Davy Propper might come back into contention after recovering from an Achilles injury.
West Brom midfielder Sam Field will be out for at least four weeks after twisting his knee. Forward Hal Robson-Kanu is still sidelined by a broken wrist.
Brighton could lose their opening three home league games in a season for the first time since 1988 – when their third defeat was against West Brom. The Seagulls have won just one of their past 11 home league matches, and have lost five of the last six, conceding at least three goals in all five of those defeats. They have won only one of their 14 top-flight games played on a Monday, with that victory coming against Leicester in April 1981. Brighton have faced 35 shots in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other side, although a league-high 31% of those attempts have been scored.
The Baggies are without a victory in five top-flight games this season, their longest winless streak at the start of a Premier League campaign since a seven-match run in 2004. West Brom’s solitary victory in 13 Premier League away games on a Monday came against Liverpool in February 2013 (D5, L7). The latest of Albion’s five Premier League goals this season was scored in the 47th minute, with their other four all netted in the first half. Charlie Austin has scored seven goals in 10 appearances against Brighton in all competitions.
Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur
Turf Moor, Burnley
Monday, 26-10-2020 @11pm
Ref: Michael Oliver
Burnley defender Phil Bardsley is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus. Ben Mee is back in training but not yet ready to feature, Erik Pieters is a doubt with a calf problem and Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jack Cork are out.
Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho will restore his first-team regulars after resting them for the Europa League. Eric Dier faces a fitness test on the hamstring injury that has caused him to miss their last two matches.
Burnley have won just two of their 12 Premier League games against Tottenham, at Turf Moor in 2009-10 and 2018-19. There have been 100 league matches between these sides. The Clarets have won 36, Spurs 39 and there have been 25 draws.
Burnley’s only win in their past 23 Premier League home fixtures against established top-six opposition came at the expense of Spurs in February 2019. That is the only victory Sean Dyche has achieved over Tottenham in 13 matches as a manager for Watford or Burnley. This is the third time the Clarets have begun a Premier League campaign without a victory in their opening four games. Since Burnley’s return to the Premier League in 2016-17, only Southampton have had more than their 13 goalless draws in the division.
Tottenham are on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions and have scored 19 goals in their past four matches. Spurs are looking to win their first three away games of a Premier League season for only the second time, emulating the 2017-18 campaign. They are only the third club to score more than 10 goals in their opening two away matches of a top-flight season (5-2 v Southampton and 6-1 v Manchester United). Sunderland, in 1892-93, and Middlesbrough, in 1935-36, both scored 12. They have kept just two clean sheets in 28 league away games, both in goalless draws last season against relegated sides Bournemouth and Watford. They have conceded three goals in the 90th minute or later this season, more than any other Premier League side prior to the latest round of fixtures. Son Heung-min won the 2019-20 Premier League Goal of the Season award for his individual effort in Tottenham’s 5-0 win over Burnley last December.
Results from this past weekend
Friday, 23-10-2010
-Aston Villa 0-3 Leeds United
Saturday, 24-10-2020
-West Ham United 1-1 Man City
-Fulham 1-2 Man City
-Man United 0-0 Chelsea
-Liverpool 2-1 Sheffield United
Sunday, 25-10-2020
-Southampton 2-0 Everton
-Wolves 1-1 Newcastle United
-Arsenal 0-1 Leicester City
