Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
The teams are set to meet again, a little over a month after their clash in the League Cup, with Brighton once more playing host. In that match, the hosts emerged victorious 3:2. Will they repeat that success, or will there be different outcomes?
Brighton
In October, Brighton have yet to taste defeat, securing narrow victories over formidable opponents— Tottenham Hotspur (3:2) and Newcastle United (1:0). It seems their slump, where they failed to win in four matches, has passed. The main strength of Brighton is their ability to score more than they create (+2.13 xG) and concede less than expected (-3.42 xGA).
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton face significant issues with such productivity. In their match last week against the champions, they nearly secured a commendable draw but couldn't hold on, conceding to John Stones in the 95th minute. Manchester City created fewer chances than they scored (1.76 xGA). Their defence is the primary concern. Wolverhampton finish decently — 10 goals in 8 matches and an xG of 12.44. However, conceding is the problem: 23 goals against, nearly 3 per game. Compared with their xGA, it's catastrophic (-7.24 and last place).
Brighton vs Wolverhampton Prediction
With such a poor defence, the visitors are likely to concede at least one goal. We'll opt for a total over 2.5, as it occurred in Wolverhampton's last six matches, including the previous meeting, and in four of Brighton's last five. Plus, the hosts won't lose.
