PREVIEW: Leeds United look to leapfrog Brighton in trip to south coast | OneFootball

Brighton have been synonymous with consistency in the past few years thanks to their strong recruitment of both players and managers, but this season there has been a feeling of mediocrity at the Amex Stadium. Fabian Hürzeler has struggled to get his players going this season and it has been a tricky start for the Seagulls, who sit 13th in the Premier League table with just three wins from their opening nine games. Brighton fell to defeat at Old Trafford last time out, as a resurgent Manchester United ran out 4-2 winners despite a late fightback from high Danny Welbeck and young starlet Charalampos Kostoulas.

They host Leeds who, since their promotion back to the top flight, have largely impressed, albeit without picking up as many points as they might have liked. Daniel Farke’s side were much the better side against strugglers West Ham last Friday, when they won 2-1 and provided a much needed response to their disappointing defeat away at Burnley. Leeds have won as many games as Brighton this season and sit just two places below the Seagulls.

Brighton have no new injury concerns off the back of their defeat at Old Trafford. Jack Hinshelwood has been a miss for the side as they have looked weakest in the middle of the pitch during his absence. Elsewhere elder statesmen Solly March and Adam Webster remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

Leeds could for the first time have a fully fit squad at their disposal. Farke has confirmed that Willy Gnonto has taken part in full training following surgery, the Italian winger could be available to make the bench and potentially even a cameo appearance. Elsewhere full back Gabriel Gudmundsson is fully fit after being forced off with a slight knock during the clubs victory over West Ham.

Brighton will need to wrestle back their form in a bid to challenge for the extra European spots that the Premier League will receive this season. They crashed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek to Arsenal and now sit in lower mid table. Hürzeler has been under slight pressure by fans who believe his footballing methods aren’t worth the lack of return being seen so far this season.

Leeds are and will be in a relegation scrap this season and they need as many points as quickly as they can. Farke surely knows that, with the state of the bottom three clubs currently, gathering momentum and distancing themselves as far away from the dotted as possible is a must for the Elland Road faithful.

Predicted line-ups

BRI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Gomez; Welbeck

LEE: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Longstaff, Ampadu, Tanaka; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor