Predicted: Nuno makes two West Ham changes for Brighton as key duo return and star is surprisingly dropped
West Ham know they can climb out of the Premier League relegation zone with victory by two goals at Brighton and Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to make changes.
The Hammers won praise for their performance in a 1-1 draw at Man United in midweek after an underwhelming display in defeat to Liverpool.
The point also proved even more vital after relegation rivals Leeds followed up their win over Chelsea with a 3-3 draw against Liverpool.
Forest losing at Everton means West Ham know they can leapfrog both sides if they beat Brighton by two clear goals at the Amex.
Key West Ham duo return for Brighton clash
West Ham’s chances ahead of the game have been boosted by the return of Lucas Paqueta after a one-game ban for his ridiculous head loss against Liverpool.
Nuno Espirito Santo also looks set to welcome back one of his most important players after three games out.
Because Crysencio Summerville has declared himself for West Ham at Brighton.
How are you feeling ahead of West Ham’s Brighton trip? What are your pre-match predictions?
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Given the performance at Man United, some fans have argued Paqueta should be benched on his return from the ban.
That argument is complicated by the fact Tomas Soucek, while hardworking and selfless as always, did not have his best game, albeit playing out of position.
Nuno has actually stated Paqueta will start the game when asked about his return to the fold.
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
That has caused a bit of a stir given he left the team in the lurch against Liverpool. But it is perhaps the manager’s way of putting a very public arm around Paqueta.
Crysencio Summerville’s return also gives Nuno a welcome headache.
And we predict Nuno makes two West Ham changes for Brighton as one star is surprisingly dropped.
Change number one will see Paqueta come back into the starting XI in place of Soucek.
Nuno makes two West Ham changes for Brighton as star is surprisingly dropped
But change number two may raise a few eyebrows.
Callum Wilson has struggled to make an impact against Liverpool and Man United after his three goals against Burnley and Bournemouth.
In fairness the 33-year-old has been feeding off scraps in a West Ham side that sorely lacks the kind of creativity an out-and-out striker like him thrives on.
With a lengthy injury history which saw him miss the equivalent of three full 38-game seasons in the five years before joining the Hammers, Wilson simply cannot start three games in a week.
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Therefore we expect Nuno to bring Summerville into the side in place of Wilson in change number two.
The Portuguese may opt to go with a false nine against Brighton with Paqueta perhaps occupying that figurehead role.
The Brazilian has had mixed results playing there in the past, including under Nuno, as has Jarrod Bowen – another contender to move up front instead of Wilson.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Brighton:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf, Potts, Magassa, Fernandes, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen.
Summerville returns? Paqueta in? What changes would you make to West Ham’s XI?
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Bogey team: A history of Brighton vs West Ham
West Ham and Brighton’s Premier League rivalry is relatively new but has been intensely competitive since Brighton’s promotion in 2017.
Brighton opened their Premier League meetings with an emphatic 3–0 win at the London Stadium in October 2017, a result that immediately signalled the Seagulls would not be easy opponents.
The pair traded wins and draws through the next seasons, with Brighton recording a 3–1 victory on 3 February 2018 and another narrow 1–0 success in October 2018.
Several of the fixtures have produced high-scoring draws — notably a 3–3 draw at the London Stadium in February 2020 and a pair of 2–2 and 1–1 draws across 2020–2021 — reflecting how closely matched the sides have often been.
Brighton have become something of a bogey team for the Hammers overall, enjoying convincing wins too, including a 4–0 rout in March 2023.
West Ham have had their moments, most famously a 3–1 victory at the Amex in August 2023 that briefly put the Hammers top of the table.
A feature of the most recent sequence of games between the two sides between 2022–25 has been of fine margins.
Brighton edged a dramatic 3–2 win back in April after the Hammers looked like they’d come from behind to win it 2-1 late on.
West Ham salvaged draws and occasional wins in the intervening seasons.
All Premier League results between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion
DateHomeAwayScore20 Oct 2017West HamBrighton0–303 Feb 2018BrightonWest Ham3–105 Oct 2018BrightonWest Ham1–002 Jan 2019West HamBrighton2–217 Aug 2019BrightonWest Ham1–101 Feb 2020West HamBrighton3–327 Dec 2020West HamBrighton2–215 May 2021BrightonWest Ham1–101 Dec 2021West HamBrighton1–122 May 2022BrightonWest Ham3–121 Aug 2022West HamBrighton0–204 Mar 2023BrightonWest Ham4–026 Aug 2023BrightonWest Ham1–302 Jan 2024West HamBrighton0–021 Dec 2024West HamBrighton1–126 Apr 2025BrightonWest Ham3–2 Join Our Newsletter
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