West Ham United are starting to live up to their potential. The Hammers shelled out almost 100 million pounds this offseason, but a slow start set them back. They lost their first four games and were in the bottom of the table until turning things around in the middle of September. West Ham has now won three of its last four games overall and secured a big win over Manchester United last weekend. The Hammers will look to keep it rolling on the road against Brighton & Hove Albion this week.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from American Express Community Stadium in Falmer, England at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, October 5, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
West Ham United +191
Brighton & Hove Albion +147
Draw +220
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
Odds Analysis
Brighton & Hove Albion have looked good in spots this season. The Seagulls secured a big win over Manchester United on Matchday 2, and they picked up a point with draws against Fulham and Southampton. They might have just five points through seven matches, but that’s pretty respectable considering their schedule. Brighton’s losses came at the hands of Watford, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester City, and all of those teams are in the top six.
It didn’t take long for the Hammers to get things going against Manchester United last week. Felipe Anderson opened the scoring with an easy tap-in off of a cross just five minutes into the match, and an own goal doubled the lead just before the break. Top goal scorer Marko Arnautovic made the lead two again shortly after a Marcus Rashford goal halved the lead midway through the second half, and West Ham held on from there to secure a 3-1 win.
Key Injuries
Dale Stephens, Florin Andone, and Pascal Gros are all questionable to play in this match for Brighton. Stephens is dealing with a thigh injury and came off against Tottenham, while Andone is still recovering from a groin injury suffered during the international break. Gros is the player to keep an eye on though, as an ankle injury has kept him out of the team’s last few matches. He is a key set-up man for Brighton.
West Ham have numerous injuries to note. Winston Reid, Andy Carroll, and Jack Wilshere are the long-term injuries. Manuel Lanzini and Carlos Sanchez have been ruled out of this one, and there is no timetable for their return yet. The Hammers are hopeful Chicharito will return here, but he has missed the last few matches with an illness and is questionable.
Player to Watch
Felipe Anderson finally got his first goal for West Ham last week. Anderson was acquired by West Ham from Lazio this summer, and his 36 million pound transfer fee was the most the Hammers had ever shelled out for a player. He has been dangerous and has created opportunities for his teammates with his vision and passing, and West Ham is hoping his first goal leads to an additional spark.
Prop Bet of the Game – West Ham United Team Total Over 1.5 at +172
This line is a bit puzzling as Brighton has allowed two goals in six of their seven Premier League matches this season. It wasn’t just the top teams that scored against this team either, as Fulham and Southampton both netted two goals. West Ham have a lot of offensive firepower, and Arnautovic has been superb this season. The Hammers should be able to get the two goals they need to cash this bet.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Brighton were smothered by Manchester City last week. While that’s not unusual, the Seagulls only had 19 percent of the possession and spent much of the time chasing the ball. That led to a bit of extra fatigue, and West Ham will take advantage by getting another road win.
English Premier League Odds: West Ham United 2, Brighton & Hove Albion 1
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