Pick Fulham to Frustrate the Seagulls

Brighton v Fulham
Saturday February 18 2023, 10:00 ET
At Falmer Stadium, Brighton

Brighton entertains Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday and the visitors look like a good pick to frustrate the Seagulls on their own patch.

Who do Bettors Favor?

According to the odds at the top rated online sportsbooks it’s clear that bettors are favoring the home team going into this weekend’s matchup. Brighton is priced as the clear -145 favorite, with Fulham rated at +400 and the draw available at anything between +295 and +310.

Brighton v Fulham
Brighton	-145	-143	-145
Draw	+310	+295	+305
Fulham	+400	+380	+380

Brighton on Upward Trajectory

It is a testament to Brighton's perseverance that the club has managed to excel even after Graham Potter's departure to Chelsea in September, which was not warmly greeted by all Brighton fans.

The Seagulls lost three of their first five games under Roberto de Zerbi, but that stretch included challenging games against top teams in the division. Brighton has been on a consistent upward trajectory since then, playing well against its peers and also recording a 3-0 win against Liverpool.

In fact, as additional evidence that Brighton are prospering in the post-Potter era, the team is presently in sixth position and have a chance of reaching the last eight of the FA Cup. De Zerbi has successfully retained the Potter passing style while adding an extra attacking edge, that has seen the Seagulls score three or more goals six times since he took over.

Fulham Defy Predictions

Fulham has defied the predictions of soccer pundits after being ranked as one of the leading relegation contenders this season following promotion from the Championship.

From the first game, Marco Silva's side has been disciplined, well-organized, and tough, and the consequence has been a string of outstanding results and a position in the league of seventh, which is significantly above what anybody could have expected. Although two of the past four games were defeats, those came against Tottenham and Newcastle, and were by a single goal, and those narrow losses were followed by a respectable draw at Stamford Bridge, demonstrating once more that Fulham can compete with the best.

A European qualifying slot may eventually be out of reach for these players, but for the time being, they are still in the hunt and a win here would lift Fulham above Brighton in the Premier League standings.

EPL Betting Head-to-Head

Brighton's major rival is Crystal Palace, and this matchup with another London team is not as hotly contested, although the head-to-head record indicates that it is close.

Fulham and Brighton have played 53 games since their first meeting in a Division Three encounter in 1928. Fulham is ahead but only narrowly, on 24 wins to Brighton's 22, and there have only been seven draws, three of which have occurred in their past five meetings.

Those five matches were all played in the Premier League, with Fulham winning the other two, although the prior five matches were in the Championship, with Brighton winning all five.

The opposite fixture this season came at the end of October, at Craven Cottage, and saw Fulham emerge as the 2-1 winners, through goals by Ben Dunk and Aleksandr Mitrovic.

EPL Team News

Jakub Moder remains on the sidelines following the cruciate ligament rupture that he sustained in April, but there is better news about Levi Colwill and Adam Lallana. Muscle injuries meant that both players were missing for the last Premier League game, but both might be on the bench here.

Fulham's team news is also relatively good. Neeskens Kebano is still out owing to an Achilles tendon rupture suffered in November, though Tom Cairney, who has been dealing with an ankle ailment, is likely to return for this game.

EPL Match Betting Pick

Brighton is a strong favourite in this game, which is surprising considering Fulham's good consistency, particularly their away form.

Fulham has lost five Premier League games on the road, but four of those losses have been against teams in the top four, and all of those losses have been by a single goal, indicating that this is a club capable of matching bigger opponents.

Although Brighton keeps improving, it is not in the same league as those teams, and Fulham's players are unlikely to be worried by them. It is worth mentioning that Marco Silva's club has only conceded one goal in its past four Premier League away games, and I believe this trend will continue, making a low scoring draw the best pick in the match betting markets this weekend.

Draw Brighton v Fulham

+310

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Under 2.5 goals Brighton v Fulham

+110

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