Brighton & Hove Albion welcome newly-promoted Ipswich Town to the Amex Stadium for a Premier League fixture on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since February 2017 when they played out a 1-1 draw on the South coast in the Championship.
Match preview
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Brighton have been one of the standout performers of the new Premier League season and have picked up seven points from a possible nine available since the arrival of 31-year-old head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
The Seagulls came out on top against Everton and Manchester United in their first two top-flight fixtures before cruising to a 4-0 EFL Cup win over League Two Crawley Town, but their perfect start to the campaign came to an end at the Emirates Stadium where they played out a 1-1 draw with 10-man Arsenal a fortnight ago.
After Kai Havertz had given Arsenal a first-half lead, Declan Rice was controversially handed his second yellow card just a few minutes after the interval following an altercation with Joel Veltman. Brighton went on to dominate proceedings and salvaged a point courtesy of a close-range finish from Joao Pedro.
Hurzeler was "a little bit disappointed" to come away from North London with only a point, but the German was ultimately "satisfied" with a draw against a team of Arsenal's quality, and his Seagulls side currently sit third in the Premier League table; only the top two teams Manchester City and Liverpool (nine) have picked up more points than the Seagulls thus far.
Brighton have reason to be optimistic of success on Saturday as they have only lost four of their last 21 home matches across all competitions over the last 12 months, while they have suffered defeat in just one of their last 13 Premier League matches at the Amex against newly-promoted teams - losing 1-0 to Fulham in February 2023.
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Ipswich are one of six Premier League teams, including fellow newly-promoted sides Leicester City and Southampton, who are yet to register their first victory in the Premier League this season after three matches.
The Tractor Boys began their first campaign back in the top flight for 22 years with successive defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City, before losing on penalties to League Two AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup, but they collected their first league point from a 1-1 draw with Fulham before the international break.
Summer signing Liam Delap scored a superb long-range opener inside the opening 15 minutes, but Adama Traore's 32nd-minute equaliser for the Cottagers ultimately forced Ipswich to settle for a share of the spoils at Portman Road.
Head coach Kieran McKenna, who was linked with the Brighton job in the summer, feels that his Ipswich side are now "adapting to the level" and are "improving all the time", with a number of new signings having now been integrated into his first-team plans.
Back-to-back away fixtures against Brighton and Southampton are up next for Ipswich, who travel to the Amex having won two of their last four visits to the Seagulls, including their last top-flight away encounter back in January 1983 (2-0).
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Team News
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Brighton's James Milner is facing an unspecified period on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, according to Hurzeler, while summer signing Matt O'Riley remains out after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this month.
Solly March has taken part in full training and Hurzeler has said that he is "close" to making his long-awaited comeback, but the winger will only be fit to make the bench at best this weekend, while Mats Wieffer, Ferdi Kadioglu and Brajan Gruda are all minor doubts and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Attacking duo Joao Pedro and Julio Enciso, who represented Brazil and Paraguay respectively at 1.30am UK time on Wednesday, will also be assessed after returning late from South America. Both players are due to return to training on Friday.
As for Ipswich, Omari Hutchinson has returned to training and is available for Saturday after pulling out of the England Under-21s squad with a hamstring injury during the international break.
The Tractor Boys have been handed a further quadruple injury boost, as McKenna has confirmed that Wes Burns, Nathan Broadhead (both hamstring), George Hirst (knee) and Harry Clarke (Achilles) have all taken part in training after spells in the treatment room.
Deadline-day signing Jack Clarke is in contention to make his full debut for Ipswich on either flank, while fellow new recruits Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene and Delap will all be hoping to keep their places in the first XI.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Hinshelwood; Baleba, Ayari; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Muric; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Clarke, Szmodics, Hutchinson; Delap
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 Ipswich Town
Both Brighton and Ipswich will attempt to play on the front foot and push forward at any given opportunity, so an entertaining contest could be on the cards on Saturday.
However, the Seagulls will be regarded as favourites in front of their own fans and should have few problems outscoring their opponents, even if they are without a few first-team players due to fitness issues.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
