Burnley
As for Burnley, the Clarets have arguably turned themselves into the Premier League s surprise package. Their 1-0 home win against Stoke in midweek saw Sean Dyche s side briefly break into the top four for the first time. Although Burnley may have dropped back down to an incredibly impressive sixth, Dyche s team are still level on points with both Liverpool and Tottenham and also sit above Arsenal in the table.
Winning six of their previous eight Premier League appearances, the Clarets have already managed to pick up as many victories as they had in their last 26 fixtures. Although last season Burnley were almost dragged into a relegation battle, a key part of Burnley s dramatic turnaround has been their performances away from Turf Moor. Only managing to pick up a single win on the road last year, the Clarets have already doubled last year s tally and have only lost twice away from home. This year, Dyche s revitalized side have already taken points off Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham when on the road. For Burnley, they have quickly become the Premier League s 1-0 specialists, defensively the Clarets have not conceded a single goal in their last two matches. On average Burnley are conceding under a goal per game and currently boast a defensive record that is only bettered by Manchester United and Manchester City.
Team News
Burnley will welcome back Matt Lowton and Ben Mee for the trip to Brighton but are still unsure about fellow defender Stephen Ward s availability.
Full-back Lowton and centre-back Mee (both knee) have missed the previous two Clarets games while Ward will be assessed on Friday having taken a blow to the knee, forcing him off against Stoke in midweek. Charlie Taylor may be handed his first Premier League start if Ward misses out, with Robbie Brady (knee), Tom Heaton (shoulder), Dean Marney and Jonathan Walters (both knee) still missing.
Key Factors to Consider
This is the first top-flight meeting between the two sides, with all previous 26 meetings taking place in the second and third tiers.
Chris Hughton s side have taken just two points from the last six games.
Brighton are in danger of losing four successive league games for the first time since December 2011.
Burnley have won six of their last eight league matches, as many as they had won in their previous 26 fixtures.
Only Manchester United and Manchester City (both 11) have conceded fewer goals than Burnley (12) in the Premier League this season.
Conclusion
Coming off the back of consecutive 1-0 wins against Stoke and Watford, Burnley will be confident about carrying on top four push. With the hosts currently without a win since the start of November, it appears it could be another tough day at the office for Chris Hughton s side. For Brighton, they have drastically struggled for goals in recent weeks and have only registered a single goal in their last five appearances. With the visitors boasting the third best defensive record in the Premier League, it is hard to see Brighton coming away with anything on Saturday afternoon. Backing Burnley to carry on their impressive run of form away from home seems like the most logical bet here.
Verdict: Burnley win
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