Brentford vs Brighton: Super-computer reveals surprise prediction – plus Tottenham, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Man City forecast
![Brighton defender Joel Veltman will hope to thwart Brentford striker Ivan Toney in their Premier League clash tonight](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI3NzAzMTZjLTA0YTgtNDJjMC1iM2JjLTg3ZGU4NWY0M2MyNjoyYWZiMjQyMS0xOTgzLTRlNDAtYmQ3Yy02NjQyZDA1NDlmN2Q=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Brighton defender Joel Veltman will hope to thwart Brentford striker Ivan Toney in their Premier League clash tonight](/img/placeholder.png)
Albion’s new head coach Roberto De Zerbi will look for his first win since taking over from Graham Potter. So far he has steered the Seagulls to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Liverpool, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Tottenham at the Amex Stadium last Saturday.
Elsewhere, Liverpool host reigning champions Manchester City already trailing them by 13 points, although Pep Guardiola’s men sit only in second place behind early leaders Arsenal, who head for Leeds.
Fivethirtyeight.com predicts
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Hide AdBrentford vs Brighton: Home win: 32%, Away win: 43%, Draw: 25%
Leicester vs Crystal Palace: Home win: 44%, Away win: 31%, Draw: 25%
Fulham vs Bournemouth: Home win: 47%, Away win: 27%, Draw: 26%
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest: Home win: 55%, Away win: 19%, Draw: 26%
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Hide AdTottenham vs Everton: Home win: 67%, Away win: 13%, Draw: 20%
Aston Villa vs Chelsea: Home win: 25%, Away win: 50%, Draw: 26%
Man United vs Newcastle: Home win: 49%, Away win: 28%, Draw: 23%
Southampton vs West Ham: Home win: 36%, Away win: 38%, Draw: 26%
Leeds vs Arsenal: Home win: 21%, Away win: 58%, Draw: 22%
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Hide AdLiverpool vs Man City: Home win: 33%, Away win: 45%, Draw: 21%
Here, Sussex World looks at some of the talking points ahead of this week’s Premier League fixtures.
Salah and Haaland
Liverpool are hopeful a corner was turned when they trounced Rangers 7-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, thanks in no small part to Mohamed Salah’s remarkable six-minute hat-trick. However, Sunday’s visit of Manchester City is likely to be a very different affair as the Reds look for a first Premier League win since August 31, with 20-goal Erling Haaland likely to be back among the visitors’ ranks fully rested having been given a night off in midweek.
Gunners Leeds the way
Whatever happens at Anfield, Arsenal will remain at the top of the table if they get the better of Leeds at Elland Road earlier the same afternoon. The Gunners enhanced their blossoming credentials with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, and the omens are promising after a seventh successive victory in all competitions in Thursday night’s 1-0 Europa League success against Bodo/Glimt. They have not lost to Leeds at home or away since May 2003, winning 10 out of 12 meetings in all competitions.
Ronaldo or Guimaraes?
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Hide AdCristiano Ronaldo has started only one Premier League game all season, but reminded Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag of his enduring potency with a winner – the 700th goal of his club career – against Everton from the bench last Sunday. His 13 appearances in all competitions against this weekend’s opponents, Newcastle, have yielded eight goals. However, the fast-improving Magpies have a new hero on their hands with Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes having scored twice in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Brentford and he will hope to mark his first trip to Old Trafford with another significant contribution.
Rodger that
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers and Aston Villa counterpart Steven Gerrard face a big weekend. The Foxes, surprise champions in 2016, lie at the foot of the table with only one win to their name all season ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Crystal Palace. Gerrard’s Villa are four places and five points better off but have tasted victory only once in their last seven, to the frustration of some fans, with Chelsea their visitors on Sunday.
Spurs style
Tottenham welcome Everton to North London on Saturday evening with questions still being asked about their style under boss Antonio Conte. Boasting a 100 per cent record in six outings on their own pitch so far this season, they have nevertheless been criticised for a perceived lack of fluidity in their play. Ominously, however, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both scored in Wednesday evening’s 3-2 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt to suggest Spurs may be about to click once again.