West Ham vs Brighton | PL | 30.12.25 | Prediction and Match Thread

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Match Centre: 

Live data by Scoreaxis

 Odds: 
WHU: 5/2
Draw: 14/5
Brighton: 11/10

 Pre-Match Press Conference: 
N/A 

 Match Preview: 
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Well, it's the last game of 2025 in a year that few will look back on with favour or fondness.  Wrapping it up are bogey-side Brighton, who after a last minute outrageous goal in the away fixture cost us a vital victory, will fancy themselves (doesn't everyone) heading to the London Stadium.

It's another of those must win games for West Ham, and if the recovery doesn't actually commence at some point, we're fucked.  

There's been no press conference for this game, so not much to report on player availability wise.  Fullkrug is training with Milan already so he's not available.  Guilherme seems to have been ostracised for some reason despite a moderatly promising last cameo against Liverpool.  And Igor it would appear it's been decided isn't up to task.   Diouf and Wan Bissaka remain at the AFCON tournament.

Predicted Line Up:

Brighton play with a large number of overloads on the ball, and last time out we shifted to a back three quite successfully, so I'd expect to see something similar again in this game (just to get the natives uber-restless when the defensive looking lineup is announced):

Areola

Mavropanos  Kilman  Todibo

Walker Peters    Fernandes   Potts   Scarles

Paqueta 

Bowen   Summerville

Subs: Hermansen, Myers, Golambeckis, Kante, Rodriguez, Magassa, Earthy, Soucek, Wilson

Predicted Result:

It is all starting to feel a bit last chance saloon for West Ham, despite the season still having over half left to run!  Lose this game and all hope will feel lost.  Brighton though seem to be missing some key players, and this presents us a chance at least.  Brighton created almost nothing against us in the first game so I expect that gameplan and pattern to largely repeat...with the outcome to be decided on the basis of how well our Maginot Line holds up to late pressure when Brighton come on strong.

Score: West Ham 1 - 0 Brighton (Bowen)

COYI

[Massive Attack]

Wilson made a right nuisance of himself and could have scored had it not been for Dunks desperate save which led to the Penalty anyway. Causing havoc up top they can't handle. 

[nychammer]

Big half of football. We have to hold our need and keep pressing high. We cannot afford to go deep and hold on. least no too early.

[Sir Alf]

I just dont see how we dont concede more goals. Please someone provide a counter argument. Summerville for Oaqueta, Mayers for Scarles at 60 mins. Earthy another option but please not Soucek or Fernandes. Who do we have on the bench to replace Kilman? Losing Todibo was not good

[Mex Martillo]

Hate that stutter step penalty, just smash it a la Ray Stewart or Julian or Sir Geoff.

 

 

Looks crap, but he doesn't miss them though does he? It's quiet intelligent, see where the keeper is going. I have no problem. Hope gets to Rays stats.

[northbankfrank]

You cannot have any confidenence we will not concede another 2 or 3 with our defence esp with a left side of Kilman, Scarles and Paqueta.  

As the game goes on Brighton will bring on subs as players tire. We only have Summerville unless Nuno sees the sense in bringing the energy of Mayers and Earthy but we know that wont happen. He will bring on Soucek and Guido and instantly weaken us. The midfield 3 of Magassa, Fernandes and Potts have to play 90
mins every game imo.  Our squad is a disgrace really.

I still only seea defeat or draw. We cannot defend doen the left.

 

 

You can sense Sir Alf keeping everything crossed in the hope that he is right.

[Ron Eff]

That 2nd Brighton penalty happens nearly every single game. Two players grappling with each other. I’ll bet it’ll happen up the other end in this game and not be given. Simple question is would it he given against Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea? Not in a million years. Some suspect decisions being given against Paqueta this season, will say it til I’m blue in the face. 

Weird he saw that but couldn’t see the Brighton captain drop to his knee, readjust his body to put both arms out, with the ball striking one of them?

Kilman however, is probably the worst player we’ve ever had. What a car crash of a centre half. 

[El Scorchio]

Not confident in our defence now. ‘Genius’ Max Hahn needs to be on the blower to agents now if he’s going to miss even 1-2 games. 

This game has more goals in it. 

shouldnt kilmans card technically be wiped out?

[Tomsdad]

Shocking that some of them players get paid to play like that.

We need about 8 new players in this window to have any chance of staying up.

Scarles and Kilman are out of their depth and Paqueta is a liability.

[Sir Alf]

You cannot have any confidenence we will not concede another 2 or 3 with our defence esp with a left side of Kilman, Scarles and Paqueta.  

As the game goes on Brighton will bring on subs as players tire. We only have Summerville unless Nuno sees the sense in bringing the energy of Mayers and Earthy but we know that wont happen. He will bring on Soucek and Guido and instantly weaken us. The midfield 3 of Magassa, Fernandes and Potts have to play 90
mins every game imo.  Our squad is a disgrace really.

I still only seea defeat or draw. We cannot defend doen the left.

[fraser]

Paqueta always look like a liability when he plays as a blocker at set pieces. He doesn't have it in him but ends up doing it because the team is quite small 

No it's because he wants us relegated... 

Courtesy of Keep Dreaming 

[side effect]

I keep checking the score just incase we concede at halftime.

[Sweep]

Paqueta always look like a liability when he plays as a blocker at set pieces. He doesn't have it in him but ends up doing it because the team is quite small 

[fraser]

Don't like Paq. Didn't want him playing tonight. But can't complain about his overall contribution tonight. 

 

 

I can understand why most didn't want him playing.. I can't understand why one cսnt when we were one up is calling him out for doing nothing when he's made our goal.. 

[pdcwhu]

Who else did you want to take it 

[Tomshardware]

Need another goal but we haven't really looked like creating much.

[zico]

Bizarre half. Paqueta with assist, goal and a rugby tackle! Concerned a red will come out though in fact I'd probably put Soucek on for Kilman. For those knocking Scarles, yes he is raw but at least he tries.

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

I don’t understand the yellow card for Dunk, if it’s a handball denying a goal it should be a red card. He  dived at it like a keeper.

[Far Cough UKunt]

Hate that stutter step penalty, just smash it a la Ray Stewart or Julian or Sir Geoff.

[fraser]

For me Paqueta did that with intent. Why?
Betting
Released if relegated 
Hmm

 

 

Fuck me are you actually serious 

[honky cat]

FOMB

[fraser]

That half was chaotic as fuck

[Sir Alf]

I say it every game but Areola just gives it back with every kick or pass out

[Sir Alf]

We will concede again. Todibo our best CB injured

get Scarles off imo and Mayers on. 

[Alfs]

What a half!!

[wils]

Don't like Paq. Didn't want him playing tonight. But can't complain about his overall contribution tonight.