Two surprise packages battling to qualify for Europe will face off in the Premier League on Saturday, as Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Fulham to the Amex Stadium.

The two teams are level on 35 points in the top-flight standings, with the Seagulls in sixth sitting just above seventh-placed Fulham – who have played two games more – on goal difference.

Brighton continue to be one of the Premier League’s (PL) biggest surprise packages this season, now trailing fifth-placed Tottenham by just four points with two games in hand!

Head coach Roberto de Zerbi has refused to play down talk of European qualification for the first time in the club’s history, while ruefully admitting his side ‘weren’t lucky’ in their 1-1 draw with rivals Crystal Palace, where full-back Pervis Estupiñán saw a goal ruled out due to a VAR error.

That disappointment should be easy enough to move on from, with the Seagulls now unbeaten in five in the league (W3, D2) and they’ve only tasted defeat over 90 minutes to PL leaders Arsenal since the season’s restart.

Brighton will now go in search of a fourth consecutive win at the Amex Stadium for the first time since March 2018, a mission that will be led by one of the best attacks in the division, as only Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have outscored them this term (39).

If Fulham are to breach Brighton’s backline on Saturday, they may have to rely on their expertise from set-pieces as no other Premier League team has scored more goals from dead-ball situations than the Cottagers (15) so far this season, while the Seagulls have conceded a league-high 46.4% of their goals from set-pieces (13 out of 28).

Silva’s side have already beaten Brighton this season, claiming a 2-1 home victory back in August, and another three points secured this weekend would see them complete the double over the South-coast outfit for the first time since 1992-93 when they were competing in the third tier of English football.

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:

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Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):

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Fulham Premier League form:

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Fulham form (all competitions):

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An entertaining contest between two teams full of confidence and flying high at the right end of the table is set to take place on Saturday, and both sides will fancy their chances of creating numerous goalscoring opportunities in the final third.

Brighton may be considered slight favourites considering their recent home form, but with little to separate these two teams, the spoils could be shared on this occasion.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; Lamptey, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Caicedo, Mac Allister; March, Gross, Mitoma; Ferguson

Fulham possible starting lineup:

Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Mitrovic