A year ago Brighton fans rejoiced that their favorite team retained its place in the elite championship. The start of the new championship brought other emotions and hopes. In the Premier League championship, Graham Potter’s wards chalked up six wins and 10 draws after 20 rounds, which brought 28 points and the ninth line in the standings. It is impossible not to note the equal performance of the team in terms of performance. The representatives of East Sussex scored and conceded 21 times. In the last four rounds Albion drew twice and defeated Brentford (2:0) and Everton (3:2). Last Friday today’s hosts pulled out a draw in a duel with Crystal Palace (1:1). The team successfully started in the FA Cup, where the Seagulls dealt with West Brom in extra time and made it to the 1/16 finals of this tournament. Dank, Sarmiento and Mwepa, who has a hip injury, will not be able to play today. Bissuma is in Mali’s Africa Cup of Nations team.
Watford celebrated their 140th anniversary last year. Over such a long period of time, the team has never risen above second place in the English Championship and in the Cup it has only reached the final twice. The last time when the Hornets achieved such success was three years ago. The start of the League Cup this year brought a victory over Crystal Palace (1:0), but the next stage was the last. The team left the championship, losing to the modest Stoke City (1:3). Like today’s rivals, the “golden boys” could not go beyond the first stage in the FA Cup. The lot was unfavorable and brought Leicester to the rivals (1:4). In the Premier League championship Claudio Ranieri’s wards got only four wins and two peaceful outcomes in 19 rounds, which brought 14 points and 17th place. After a series of four defeats in a row, the yellow army played a draw with Newcastle (1:1) on the road. Foster, Kiko, Kabasele, Etebo, Sarr, Masina, Baa, Trost-Ekong and Luza, who are in the Africa Cup squad, will not be able to play today.
