Paul Merson has made a worrying West Ham claim in his Brighton clash prediction as the Hammers look for their first Premier League points of the season.
After back-to-back defeats to start the new league season, West Ham entertain bogey side Brighton next at the London Stadium on Sunday.
There is no way to sugar coat it, West Ham’s record against the Seagulls since their promotion to the top flight is dismal.
In 10 Prem games between West Ham and Brighton since they came into the Premier League in 2017/2018 the Hammers have failed to wing a single match.
West Ham have lost four and drawn the other six.
Brighton stopped the Hammers qualifying for the Europa League on the final day of last term when they came from 1-0 down to beat David Moyes’ side 3-1 and extend the hoodoo into another season.
Now Moyes and Graham Potter lock horns again at the London Stadium with the Hammers in desperate need of a boost after another lacklustre performance in a 3-1 win over Danish side Viborg in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
Brighton have started the season in fine form, beating Man United 2-1 at Old Trafford and drawing 0-0 at home against new-look Newcastle.
Moyes has bemoaned his side’s performances throughout pre-season and has remarked that his West Ham side has started to look ‘stale’.
‘All the hype’ Paul Merson’s worrying West Ham claim in Brighton clash prediction as Hammers look for first Premier League points
And he’s not the only one.
Because Paul Merson has made a worrying West Ham claim in his Brighton clash prediction as the Hammers look for their first Premier League points.
Speaking in his prediction column for Sports Keeda, Merson warns that ‘all the hype’ around West Ham could quickly dissipate.
“West Ham punched above their weight last season but have started the 2022-23 Premier League campaign with two losses,” Merson told Sports Keeda.
“Brighton beat Manchester United in their first game of the new campaign, but you never quite know what you’re going to get from them!
“If West Ham fail to get three points here, the nerves will start kicking in and suddenly, all the hype around their season will dissipate. That said, I can’t separate these two teams at the moment, so I’m going for draw.”
Merson predicts the game will finish 1-1. And history suggests a score draw is the most likely outcome.
But it is hoped new signings such as Gianluca Scamacca, who got off the mark on his first start in midweek, Maxwel Cornet and Thilo Kehrer can start to give West Ham the fresh impetus they so badly need.
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