* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
West Ham’s home defeat to Everton on Sunday, coupled with Leicester’s win against an understrength Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, has dealt a major blow to the Hammers’ chances of finishing in the Champions League places. David Moyes’s side have now lost three of their last four games and currently sit eight points off Leicester with just three games to play.
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However, there is a somewhat reasonable chance that Leicester will lose to both Chelsea and Tottenham in their final two games or that Chelsea fail to beat both Leicester and Aston Villa in their last two games, and West Ham will hope to win their last three very winnable games in the hope that they secure automatic qualification for the Europa League at the very least.
West Ham to win
They take on a Brighton side with absolutely nothing to play for and without two of their best players on Saturday, so they should wrap up the first of those three wins with the minimum of fuss. Brighton secured Premier League football for the fourth season running following Fulham’s defeat to Burnley on Monday, but they are without both Lewis Dunk and Neal Maupay for Saturday’s game with West Ham after both were sent off in the defeat to Wolves last Sunday.
Saturday 8pm: Brighton v West Ham
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It’s difficult to see Brighton troubling West Ham too much without Maupay or Dunk, especially considering they nothing but pride to play for. The Hammers shouldn’t have too many issues wrapping up three points at the Amex and it’s worth siding with West Ham to Win.
Over 2.5 goals
West Ham have fallen out of the Champions League places thanks to a run of three defeats in four league games. That form may come as a surprise given their excellent start to 2021 that saw them win 10 out of 15 games in the league, but West Ham were an accident waiting to happen.
In three games against Arsenal, Wolves and Leicester, West Ham conceded eight goals and did their utmost to throw away three-goal leads in all three games. They then proceeded to concede three calamitous goals against Newcastle in a damaging defeat in April.
Moyes’ side have not kept a clean sheet in eight games, conceding 14 goals in the process. Only a handful of teams have conceded more goals than West Ham over the past eight games and it’s hard to see them keeping a clean sheet against a Brighton side that creates plenty of chances, even if they don’t always take them. The Hammers may have to score twice to come away with three points on Saturday evening and Over 2.5 Goals is a good play.
Jesse Lingard to Score and West Ham to Win
Jesse Lingard’s unlikely return to form since joining West Ham has been a key reason for the Hammers’ lofty position in the league table. However, Lingard’s goals have dried up in recent weeks just as the Premier League season entered the business end. The Manchester United loanee has failed to score from open play in West Ham’s last four goals, coinciding with West Ham’s dip in form.
He had scored eight goals in his nine previous league outings for the Hammers. Lingard has played himself into Euros contention with his form since joining West Ham, but he faces stiff competition and will be desperate to nail down his spot in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad in the final three games of the season, so expect him to be on it on Saturday night. Our final bet here is Lingard to score and West Ham to win.
Tips for Brighton v West Ham
West Ham to Win
Over 2.5 Goals
Jesse Lingard to score and West Ham to win
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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