Football tips: Maupay can maul Burnley Anytime on return to Brighton side

Brighton host Burnley at the Amex Stadium on Friday night (5.30pm)

Brighton to win

Burnley are in serious trouble, despite playing just six games this season. Sean Dyche’s side have picked up just one point in those matches, conceding 12 goals at a rate of two goals per game; something that is most un-Burnley like. Although it is still early stages, it just feels as though they are not suited to this current Premier League season, which had seen an unprecedented number of goals so far. Teams like who thrive on being compact and winning low-scoring games, are being left behind.

This is not the time for defensive football, especially without any crowds to egg a team on, and Burnley need to adapt quickly or face returning to the Championship.

Brighton, meanwhile, have been deceptively poor this season in terms of results. Graham Potter’s side have generally performed well, running Chelsea and Manchester United close at home and Tottenham close on the road, but they only have five points to show for it after seven games. Their real problem has been turning good performances into points and they simply need to put three on the board against Burnley on Friday night. This is a must-win for both sides, but only Brighton have the capabilities to actually pull it off.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

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Neal Maupay to score anytime

Neal Maupay is on something of a drought in recent games, failing to score in his last three. However, his goals will be crucial to Brighton’s hopes of putting distance between themselves and the relegation zone because that is something the Seagulls have lacked in recent weeks.

They have scored in every game this season, but they have only managed to score a single goal in each of their last three games. Those three came courtesy of a right-back, an own goal, and a 90th-minute deflected equaliser and it’s clear to everyone and anyone that their forward players need to start pulling their weight.

The bulk of the goalscoring responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Maupay, who scored four goals in Brighton’s first four games of the season, and the French striker will be keen to get on the scoresheet against an uncharacteristically porous Burnley defence. He was dropped from the squad against Spurs after a behind-the-scenes bust-up and will come into this one with fire in his belly.

 

GrahamPotterBrightonAug19

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Over 2.5 goals

Neither Brighton nor Burnley can be exactly proud of their defensive efforts so far this season. Both sides have conceded goals at a rate of two per game, while boat sides have also conceded four times in a single game on their travels. The two clubs have only managed one clean sheet each, with Burnley’s predictably coming against West Brom in the first 0-0 draw of the season, and Brighton’s coming against a misfiring Newcastle in the second game of the campaign.

Brighton have scored in every league game this year and will hope to continue that record against a vulnerable Burnley defence, while Burnley will hope to improve on their embarrassing tally of three goals this season. We should see goals on Friday.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

Brighton v Burnley tips

Brighton to win
Neal Maupay to score anytime
Over 2.5 goals

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