West Ham team news: Mitoma back in contention

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A look ahead to Tuesday night's action at the London Stadium.

Bruce Talbot

2025-12-29T10:15+00:00

Kaoru Mitoma is available after missing Saturday's game against Arsenal because of illness.

Albion will be looking to end 2025 with a first win in six Premier League games when we head to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United on Tuesday, kick off 7.30pm.

Team news…

At his pre-match press conference Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Kaoru Mitoma, who missed the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal because of illness, is available. He added, “We will see in training (on Monday) but Danny Welbeck could be an option to start. Overall, we have no new issues from Arsenal, and Solly March is doing some sessions with the under-21s to get used to the intensity again then we can reintegrate him into the squad in January.”

Fabian on Tuesday’s opponents…

“We know how difficult it is to beat them from the game at the Amex a few weeks ago. They have a lot of quality and they’re very good in transition and they’re good in set pieces. They proved it against Fulham on Saturday. I think they deserved to win this game and therefore we know that they will be be a really tough opponent.”

Facts and stats

West Ham have won none of their eight Premier League home games against Brighton (D6 L2) – only Burnley have ever faced an opponent more at home without ever winning in the competition (10 vs Arsenal, 10 vs Chelsea).

53% of Premier League meetings between West Ham and Albion have been draws (9/17), including three of the last four. Among fixtures played 15+ times, only Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday has a higher share of games drawn (56%, 9/16).

This is the first time West Ham have faced an opponent twice in the same month in the league since April 1980, drawing and losing against Birmingham City in the second tier. It’s the first time in the top-flight since August 1974 (W1 D1 vs Luton Town).

West Ham have never beaten Albion at the London Stadium in the Premier League in eight attempts (D2 L6), with only Manchester City playing more times there without losing (9 games). It’s also the most games Brighton have played in the league at one stadium without losing in their history.

This is the first time Albion have faced an opponent twice in the same month in the league since February 2008, winning at home and losing away against Cheltenham Town in League One.

West Ham have alternated between winning (2) and losing (2) their final league game in each of the last four calendar years, going down 5-0 at home to Liverpool in their last game of 2024.

Brighton have only won their final league game in one of the last five calendar years (D2 L2), beating Spurs 4-2 at the Amex Stadium in 2023.

West Ham have lost 11 Premier League home games in 2025, with only Wolves losing more (12). It’s the Hammers’ joint-most home defeats in a calendar year in their league history (also 11 in 1967).

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s first three home Premier League games against Brighton saw just three goals scored (two 0-0s and a 2-1 win with Wolves between 2018-19 and 2020-21) but he beat them 7-0 in February 2025 as Nottingham Forest coach at the City Ground.

Diego Gomez is Albion's top scorer in all competitions this season (8), with six of his eight goals coming away from home. He scored against Arsenal last time out, but is yet to score in consecutive appearances for the Seagulls.

Match officials