High-flying Brighton and Hove Albion travel to perpetual bogey side Fulham as both sides seek a rare midweek points boost in their respective Premier League campaigns.
Both teams come into the fixture on the back of 1-1 draws the previous weekend, with Brighton having kicked off Gameweek 13 with a dramatic draw against Southampton while the Cottagers secured a creditable point at Tottenham Hotspur.
Tom Cairney got the goal to deny the Lilywhites victory at White Hart Lane, but Fulham’s captain will be missing for this fixture after picking up a straight red card.
The Seagulls, meanwhile, are enjoying more positive fitness news every week, with previous matches heralding the returns of Matt O’Riley, João Pedro and Lewis Dunk, and others nearing a return too.
A contest at Craven Cottage is rarely easy for any visitor, and while Brighton have had memorable journeys to West London in the past, they are yet to win a Premier League fixture there.
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Team News
Fulham
Boss Marco Silva has the luxury of a largely injury-free squad to choose from coming into this fixture, but does have selection problems in midfield.
Harrison Reed remains out with an ankle injury, while Cairney (three matches) and Saša Lukić (one match) will both be unavailable due to suspension.
Jorge Cuenca returns to contention after a knock, but fellow defender Joachim Andersen is still out with a calf problem.
In his front four, Silva can rotate again, with either Raúl Jiménez or Rodrigo Muniz possible starters up front, and Adama Traoré and Harry Wilson candidates to begin the match after spells on the bench against Spurs.
However, the Cottagers’ ex-Arsenal trio of Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi impressed against their former North London rivals and will be keen to link up again.
Timothy Castagne and Ryan Sessegnon will also be keen for game time, but with incumbent full-backs Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson in stellar form, the selection headaches for Silva are plentiful.
Brighton
Seagulls boss Fabian Hürzeler is seeing his squad rejuvenated as they enter the crucial festive period, with several players returning to contention at present.
This is in stark contrast to the fate that befell predecessor Roberto De Zerbi last December, when Brighton’s squad – stretched to breaking point by Europa League football – was thinning every week.
Captain Dunk returned to the side by coming on against Southampton, giving a huge boost after Igor Julio played every Premier League minute during the Englishman’s four-match absence.
Carlos Baleba will be the next to return to contention after serving his one-match suspension, while Adam Webster and Ferdi Kadıoğlu are also on their way back to first-team football.
Solly March is also back in training, and in Hürzeler’s latest press conference, the manager suggested that the winger might make a return around Christmas.
Hürzeler said: “I think it’s important that we calm him down and give him the time to be prepared for a Premier League game after all this time. We don’t want to make two steps at one time."
Jack Hinshelwood and James Milner are longer-term absentees and will not be involved in this game.
There will also be a late decision at right-back, where Tariq Lamptey is fit and Joël Veltman has also returned to training in the build-up to the match.
Hürzeler himself will only be in the stands for the contest, after picking up a yellow card against Southampton to take his tally to three for the season.
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Likely Lineups
Fulham
Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Traoré; Jiménez
Brighton
Verbruggen; Lamptey, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupiñán; Baleba, O’Riley; Rutter, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
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Key Players
Fulham – Antonee Robinson
The West London side’s American full-back is in the form of his life this season, and having consolidated on an outstanding 2023-24 season where he started 37 league games, is thriving as a point of creativity in the side.
Having already amassed three assists this season, and taking the captain's armband for the first time against Tottenham, the 27-year-old will again be instrumental against the Seagulls.
Robinson will fancy his chances of progressing upfield against Brighton’s weaker right side, with naturally offensive full-back Tariq Lamptey and an inside forward Georginio Rutter forming a pair far from suited to defending deep.
Conversely, the demands on Robinson and his winger – either Nelson or Traoré – will also be heavy throughout the 90 minutes.
Given how both sides will be expected to start from a 4-2-3-1 shape, individual battles will be in operation across the pitch and for Fulham to have success as a team, Robinson must win his contest.
Brighton – Lewis Dunk
After spending over a month on the sidelines, the time has come for Dunk to begin what many see as the final chapter in his Brighton career.
Once a permanent fixture of the Seagulls’ side – something highlighted as he made his 250th Premier League appearance last week – and always fit, Dunk’s exertions have caught up with him of late.
The England international admitted to playing through the pain barrier last season under De Zerbi, suffering in the long term for a squad which was at times down to its bare bones.
Having played seven of 16 matches in all competitions without him this season, Brighton are not just having to prepare for life without their longest-serving current player, but are already living that reality.
Igor and Webster have both deputised in recent weeks, with the former experiencing some success with big performances against Newcastle and Manchester City in particular, but when Dunk is available, he is a natural starter.
With unrivalled experience, leadership and aerial abilities, Dunk is still the lynchpin of Brighton’s defence and will be at the front of every battle at Craven Cottage.
Fans will hope his performance is reminiscent of some classic Championship nights in West London, including in the 2016-17 promotion season when his goal helped Brighton to a 2-1 win, as Brighton now look to extend their run at the top of English football into 2025.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The game will be played at Craven Cottage, where Brighton have not won since the aforementioned 2016-17 season, losing three matches and drawing once since.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off is at 7:30pm, the first of two matches to take place on Thursday, 5 December.
How can I watch?
The match will be broadcast live to UK viewers on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage starting from 7:00pm.
