Julen Lopetegui Confident West Ham Are On Right Track Ahead Of Brighton Match

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West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is optimistic about his team's progress after securing four points from their last two Premier League matches. Ahead of their upcoming game against Brighton, Lopetegui's side managed a 2-1 victory over Wolves and a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth. Despite conceding a late equaliser to Bournemouth, Lopetegui remains positive about the team's performance and direction.

Brighton, under Fabian Hurzeler's leadership, faced a setback with a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace, dropping them to ninth in the league. They haven't won in four games since defeating Bournemouth in November. Midfielder Yasin Ayari remains hopeful, stating that unity will help them regain their early-season form.

Mohammed Kudus has been a standout for West Ham this season, attempting 76 dribbles in the league. His dribbling average per game is only surpassed by Everton's Iliman Ndiaye. Meanwhile, Brighton's Danny Welbeck has scored more goals against West Ham than any other team but hasn't found the net in his last six matches.

Lopetegui expressed satisfaction with his team's performance at Bournemouth, highlighting their strong expected goals (xG) statistics despite allowing numerous shots. "We were very close to winning on a very difficult pitch against a very good team who have been strong at home," he said. The manager believes that teamwork is crucial for future success.

The upcoming match between West Ham and Brighton is anticipated to be closely contested. Historically, West Ham has struggled against Brighton, winning only once in their 14 Premier League encounters. Brighton remains unbeaten in seven away games against West Ham, though many ended in draws.

Despite Brighton's solid start this season, they have not won any of their last ten away games against London teams. In contrast, West Ham has shown improvement at home recently, gaining ten points from their last five home matches. This suggests that another draw could be likely when these teams meet.

The Opta win probability gives West Ham a slight edge with a 39.1% chance of winning compared to Brighton's 34.3%. The likelihood of a draw stands at 26.6%, reflecting the competitive nature of this fixture.