Brighton will be aiming for their first Premier League win since November when they take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Thursday evening.
After such a strong start to the season under young German coach Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have slipped into the bottom half of the table after a winless December. The Seagulls have been hit by injury after injury over the winter, but their recent performances have earned them more points.
They have drawn four in their last four league games and were able to let off some steam at the weekend by beating second division side Norwich City 4-0 in the FA Cup.
Ipswich fans would no doubt have been smiling when they saw Saturday’s result at Carrow Road and their weekend got even better the next day as Kieran McKenna’s side comfortably edged past Bristol Rovers and into the fourth round moved in.
Recent signs suggest that Ipswich will not go down without a fight this season. They secured their first home win of the league season against Chelsea at the end of 2024 and failed to win in stoppage time in their last game due to a Raul Jimenez penalty at Fulham.
Here is 90 minutes Guide to Thursday’s Premier League clash.
Ipswich vs Brighton H2H results (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
Ipswich | Brighton |
|---|---|
Ipswich 3-0 Bristol Rovers – 12/01/25 | Norwich 0-4 Brighton – 11/01/25 |
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich – 01/05/25 | Brighton 1-1 Arsenal – 01/04/25 |
Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea – 12/30/24 | Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton – 30/12/24 |
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich – 12/27/24 | Brighton 0-0 Brentford – 12/27/24 |
Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle – 12/21/24 | West Ham 1-1 Brighton – 12/21/24 |
country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | Discovery+, Discovery+ App, TNT Sports 2 |
United States | peacock |
Canada | fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 2 Canada |
The hosts will be without some key attacking players on Thursday, with Omari Hutchinson sidelined for a short period after missing Sunday’s win over Bristol Rovers with a groin injury. McKenna will also be unable to call on Sammie Szmodics due to an ankle problem.
Ipswich are already without Chiedozie Ogbene this season after he tore his Achilles tendon, while Axel Tuanzebe and Conor Chaplin are also missing.
Liam Delap has been the star for Ipswich this season and will lead the Tractor Boys line-up at Portman Road on Thursday.
Predicted line-up for Ipswich vs Brighton (5-2-3):Walton; Johnson, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Broadhead, Delap, Clarke.
There have been many complaints from north London about injury concerns, but no team has been hit harder by enforced absences than Brighton.
The Seagulls’ injury list is still extensive and they could be without nine first-team players on Thursday.
Joao Pedro is the latest injured as his status for the next few games is questionable due to an ankle injury. Hurzeler will also not be able to rely on Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood and new signing Diego Gomez in this game.
Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh are both questionable, but Lewis Dunk and Tariq Lamptey should be fit to return. Danny Welbeck is also back in action, which gives the visitors a big boost.
Predicted Brighton v Ipswich line-up (4-2-3-1): Conceal; Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Gruda, Enciso, Mitoma; Welbeck.
It has been far too long since Brighton claimed victory in the Premier League and while Ipswich’s resilience deserves huge credit, they will have to struggle through Thursday’s game without Szmodics and Hutchinson – Delap’s impressive supporting cast.
Hurzeler’s side were ruthless at the weekend and the steam let off at Carrow Road should ease the tension on Thursday evening. A trip to East Anglia could well bring them joy and we could see Welbeck deliver a long-awaited triumph to the visitors upon his return to the Premier League eleven.