Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides who were victorious on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season will look horns on Saturday evening, when Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Watford to the Amex Stadium.

The Hornets began life back in the big time with an impressive home win against Aston Villa, while the Seagulls secured all three points away at Burnley.

Match preview

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For only the second time in the last six seasons, Brighton won their opening game of a league campaign when they came from behind to beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor last weekend.

James Tarkowski headed the hosts into the lead in just the second minute and they held on until the 73rd minute, when two goals in the space of five minutes from Neal Maupay and substitute Alexis Mac Allister turned the game on its head for the Seagulls.

Mac Allister has claimed that "there is more to come" from Brighton this season and that their aim is to 'finish in the Premier League's top 10', something the club have never achieved in their history.

Brighton's highest top-flight finish was 15th place in 2017-18 and 2019-20, but Graham Potter is hopeful that they can significantly improve on that this term. With only one of their next seven league matches against a team from last season's top six, they will fancy their chances of a strong start to the new campaign.

The Seagulls head into Saturday's home fixture with Watford, having never lost a Premier League home game against them.

They are also enjoying a run of five successive top-flight home games unbeaten, winning three and drawing two fixtures at the end of last season. Brighton will equal their own record of six without defeat – previously set in 2017-18 – should they avoid defeat again this weekend.

In addition, Potter's men are looking to win both of their opening two games in a Premier League season for the first time. The Seagulls last won their first two fixtures in any division in the 2015-16 Championship campaign.

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Watford began life back in the Premier League with a victory as they claimed an impressive 3-2 win at home against Aston Villa last weekend.

Goals from debutants Emmanuel Dennis and Cucho Hernandez either side of a deflected effort from Ismaila Sarr helped the Hornets secure all three points, despite a late fightback from the visitors.

Head coach Xisco Munoz hailed his side's performance in front of a jubilant Vicarage Road crowd, and if they can replicate their efforts throughout this campaign, they will certainly remove their current tag as relegation candidates.

Watford are in high spirits at present and since the turn of the year, only Premier League champions Manchester City (20) have won more games than the Hornets (18) in England's top four divisions.

Munoz will be hoping his side can take that winning mentality on their travels in the top flight, where they struggled two years ago.

Watford had a poor away record the last time they competed in the Premier League, claiming just two wins from their 19 matches on the road, losing their last six in succession.

They can, however, take some confidence into their encounter against Brighton, as the home side has won just three of the last 13 meetings between the two teams.

Team News

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Brighton are expected to remain without former Watford striker Danny Welbeck and right wing-back Tariq Lamptey due to hamstring injuries, while defender Dan Burn and midfielder Moises Caicedo are ruled out with knee problems.

Aaron Connolly and Percy Tau, who both missed last weekend's win at Burnley due to personal reasons, remain doubtful.

Joel Veltman also missed the opening game because he had come into close contact with a person who had tested positive for COVID-19, however the defender is set to return on Saturday and could start ahead of Shane Duffy.

Midfielder Enock Mwepu, who made his debut against the Clarets last weekend after joining from RB Salzburg this summer, is set to keep his place alongside Yves Bissouma, while Maupay is expected to lead the line up front.

As for Watford, they have been dealt a huge blow as summer signing Juraj Kucka could be sidelined for up to three months with a leg injury sustained in the win against Aston Villa.

Strikers Joao Pedro (knee) and Joshua King (groin) are also ruled out with injuries, however, Kiko Femenia and Domingos Quina are back in training, after recovering from thigh problems, and could be in contention to feature this weekend.

Midfielder Will Hughes is unlikely to play as he was left out of the squad last weekend and has been training with the Under-23s amid a tense contract stand-off.

Forward Hernandez will be hoping to force his way into the starting lineup after scoring on his debut last weekend, however Munoz is expected to stick with a front three of Sarr, Dennis and Ken Sema.

Club captain Troy Deeney, who is just three strikes away from reaching the 50-goal milestone in the Premier League, is also set to begin from the bench once again.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, Veltman; March, Bissouma, Mwepu, Gross; Trossard, Mac Allister; Maupay

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Masina; Cleverley, Etebo, Louza; Sarr, Dennis, Sema

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Watford

Five of the last six meetings between Brighton and Watford have seen less than three goals scored, and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards this weekend.

Both sides will view this fixture as a winnable game but with little to separate them, a score draw could be played out at the Amex Stadium.