Two teams wey dey level for Premier League table go knack heads this Saturday afternoon for Amex Stadium, as Brighton & Hove Albion go host Newcastle United. Na the first time both sides go meet since early May, when dem play 1-1 draw for the South Coast after Alexander Isak – wey Newcastle fans no too dey happy with again – score late penalty for the 89th minute.
Match Preview
To talk truth, Brighton start this 2025-26 Premier League season like person wey still dey find him rhythm. Dem don collect two wins, three draws and two losses from seven games, scoring 10 and conceding 10.
Consistency no dey yet, but dem never lose for the last three matches – 3-1 win against Chelsea dey middle of draws with Tottenham and Wolves, the last one na 1-1 draw for Molineux before international break.
Na Jan Paul van Hecke late equaliser give dem that Wolves point, and e come mean say Brighton don collect 30 Premier League points from losing positions since Fabian Hurzeler take over – 43% of all the points wey e don gather for the club. That one na highest comeback ratio for any Premier League team since 2024-25 start.
Dem dey 12th for table, but only three points separate dem from top six. And dem dey enjoy life for Amex – only one loss for last 11 home league games (W6 D4). In fact, dem never lose to Newcastle for Premier League home matches – eight meetings, three wins, five draws. Newcastle na the only team wey don come Amex more than five times and never carry full three points.
For Newcastle side, e get small wahala. After finishing top five last season, dem now dey 11th this term with nine points from seven matches – just one place above Brighton, na goal difference dey separate them. The problem? Goals. Dem don score only six goals from 80 shots. Na only Nottingham Forest get worse conversion rate (6.3%) compared to Newcastle (7.5%).
Defensively though, Eddie Howe men still tight. Nick Pope don keep five clean sheets – na the highest for league this season – and only Arsenal (three goals conceded) get better defensive record than dem (five conceded). But history dey against Newcastle: dem don win only two out of their 16 Premier League games vs Brighton (D8 L6), just 13% win rate – their lowest against any team dem don face at least thrice for the league.
Their away form sef no sweet at all. Dem never score for last four Premier League away games, and all the three away matches this season end goalless. The last time dem experience this kind drought na 2015. Only one team for England football history ever start season with first four away games ending 0-0 – Notts County for 1935-36.
Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League Form:
W W L D W D
Newcastle United Premier League Form:
L D W D L W
Team News
For Brighton, Solly March, Adam Webster, Brajan Gruda (all knee injury) and Jack Hinshelwood (ankle) still dey out. Kaoru Mitoma (ankle), Joel Veltman (calf) and Diego Gomez (thigh) go face late fitness test before kickoff. If Mitoma fit, Yankuba Minteh go likely shift to right wing, while Georginio Rutter fit come in for No.10 role behind Danny Welbeck wey go still lead the line. Maxim De Cuyper go also dey fight to regain starting spot for left-back.
For Newcastle, Yoane Wissa and Tino Livramento (both knee), plus Lewis Hall (hamstring) still dey injury list. Will Osula dey doubt (ankle), but Joelinton fit return after groin issue. Jacob Ramsey too fit come back after missing seven matches. Dan Burn go still play left-back in Hall absence, while Fabian Schar fit come back to partner Botman or Malick Thiaw for centre defence. Nick Woltemade go likely start again after scoring his first goal for Germany this week – e don get three goals in four Premier League games already.
Brighton Possible Lineup:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Newcastle Possible Lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon
Prediction
We Talk Say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Newcastle United
Brighton home record plus their good history against Newcastle fit give dem confidence for this match. But Newcastle defence still dey among the hardest to break down this season, and that discipline fit help dem carry at least one point commot from this clash. Expect tight, tactical football – nobody go wan risk too much.
