Albion kick off 2024 with a trip to the London Stadium on Tuesday when we take on West Ham United, kick off 7.30pm. Victory could lift us to sixth in the Premier League table.
Team news
Lewis Dunk is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card in Thursday’s 4-2 win over Spurs.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Igor Julio is not fit but Facundo Buonanotte is available and Adam Webster will also be involved after recovering from injury. "Webster could play a part of the game if we need him," he said.
James Milner will join Ryan Giggs on 632 Premier League appearances if he plays, with only Gareth Barry (653) having played more top-flight games in his career.
Last time out
Albion suffered their first ever Premier League defeat to West Ham when they won 3-1 at the Amex in August.
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Player to watch
Jarrod Bowen’s consistent performances for the Hammers have not only been crucial to their impressive form this season but have also earned him a place in the England squad.
Bowen, who joined the Hammers from Hull City in 2020, has scored more than 100 goals in all competitions with 13 this season including one in three of his last four Premier League games. The 27-year-old was also on target in West Ham’s win at the Amex in August. Bowen made his England debut in 2022 and has won five caps.
Stats and facts
West Ham won the reverse fixture against Brighton 3-1 in August, ending a 12-game winless league run against the Seagulls (D6 L6). They last did the league double over them in 2011-12, while they’ve never done so in the top-flight.
Brighton are unbeaten in their last six away league games against West Ham (W2 D4), since a 6-0 loss in the Championship in April 2012.
West Ham have conceded at least once in all 13 of their Premier League games against Brighton, the most they’ve faced a side without ever keeping a clean sheet in the competition.
West Ham are unbeaten in their first league game in each of the last six calendar years (W4 D2), since a 2-0 home loss to Manchester United in 2017.
Albion are unbeaten in their first league game in each of the last seven calendar years (W3 D4), since a 1-0 home loss against Wolves in 2016. They’ve won their last two such games, both against Everton.
West Ham have won their last three home games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 7-0. They last won four in a row on home soil without conceding within the same season back in October/November 1994 (a run of five).
Albion have kept just three away clean sheets in the Premier League since the start of last season, beating West Ham 2-0 in August 2022, Bournemouth 2-0 in April 2023 and Arsenal 3-0 in May 2023. However, they’ve also only failed to score twice themselves in this run (0-2 v Brentford October 2022, 0-2 v Arsenal December this season).
West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta has been involved in five goals in his last four Premier League home games (1 goal, 4 assists), as many as in his first 21 appearances at the London Stadium (2 goals, 3 assists).
Mohammed Kudus has scored more home goals in all competitions than any other West Ham player this season (9). The last player to score 10+ home goals in their first season with the Hammers was Teddy Sheringham in 2004-05.
Danny Welbeck has scored more Premier League goals against West Ham than he has against any other opponent (6). However, five of his six goals against them have come in home games.
Match officials
Referee: Sam Barrott
Assistant Referees: Marc Perry & Nick Hopton
Fourth Official: John Brooks
Video Assistant Referee: Robert Jones