West Ham eager to end three-game losing run as Brighton visits.

West Ham vs. Brighton kicks off at 19:30 [GMT] on Tuesday, December 30, at the London Stadium.

Eighteenth-placed West Ham will host Brighton at the London Stadium for their final Premier League fixture of the year, and history offers little encouragement for the home side. This is one of those matchups that has quietly become a recurring frustration for the Hammers. West Ham are winless in eight home Premier League games against Brighton (D6 L2), a run that stands out as one of the longest any side has endured at home against a single opponent without ever winning in the competition. Only Burnley, against Arsenal and Chelsea, has faced an opponent more often at home without recording a victory. However, draws have been a defining theme of this fixture. Over half of all Premier League meetings between West Ham and Brighton have ended level (9 of 17), including three of the last four encounters. Among fixtures played at least 15 times, only Chelsea vs. Sheffield Wednesday has produced a higher proportion of draws, reinforcing the idea that margins between these sides are often razor thin. The unusual scheduling adds another layer of intrigue. The recent end-of-year form does little to settle expectations. West Ham have alternated between wins and losses in their final league game of the calendar year across the last four seasons, though last year’s 5–0 home defeat to Liverpool still lingers as a reminder of their vulnerability. Putting an end to a three-game losing run remains the ultimate objective for the Hammers [DDLLL]. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Callum Wilson in attack may be seen against the Seagulls.

Brighton [LDLDL], for their part, have won just one of their last five final league fixtures. However, the 13th-placed side have turned this ground into something of a second home, losing none of their eight Premier League visits here. Meanwhile, Nuno Espírito Santo’s early encounters with Brighton as a Premier League manager were typically low-scoring affairs, although his most recent meeting saw his Nottingham Forest side dismantle the Seagulls 7–0 in February 2025. Brighton’s main attacking threat arrives in the form of Diego Gómez, the club’s top scorer in all competitions this season with eight goals. Six of those have come away from home, underlining his importance on the road. However, he is yet to score in back-to-back appearances for the Seagulls, something he will be eager to change after finding the net against Arsenal last time out. Danny Welbeck is expected at the attacking end of Brighton’s 4—2—3—1 formation. Adam Webster and Solly March remain sidelined, while Carlos Baleba is at AFCON.