Key events
Breaking news … and it’s something which will have some sort of effect, one way or another, on Southampton’s efforts to stay in the Premier League.
Here’s a reminder of how the Premier League table looks heading into the Friday Night Football. Southampton were set a bottom-versus-top clash last Sunday; now they’ve been handed a 20th-versus-fifth-and-potentially-second test. It’s theoretically easier, but not by very much.
Brighton make two changes to their starting XI after the 2-1 win at Bournemouth. Tariq Lamptey returns from injury, with Matt O’Riley stepping up from the bench. Carlos Baleba is suspended after his red card at Dean Court, while Joel Veltman misses out altogether. Lewis Dunk is also back from an injury lay-off, taking a spot on the bench.
Southampton make four changes after their 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool. Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is dropped and replaced by Premier League debutant Joe Lumley. Ryan Fraser also drops to the bench, while Paul Onouachu and Adam Lallana are injured; Cameron Archer, Yukinari Sugawara and Ryan Manning take their places.
The teams
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Julio, Pedro, Georginio, Welbeck, Mitoma, Ayari, van Hecke, Estupian, O’Riley.
Subs: Steele, Dunk, Enciso, Adingra, Minteh, Wieffer, Ferguson, McConville, Slater.
Southampton: Lumley, Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Walker-Peters, Manning, Downes, Fernandes, Dibling, Armstrong, Archer.
Subs: McCarthy, Edwards, Wood, Bree, Fraser, Aribo, Amo-Ameyaw, Kamaldeen, Brereton Diaz.
Referee: Rob Jones
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Preamble
A score draw will send Brighton & Hove Albion into second place in the Premier League tonight, but even a win wouldn’t lift Southampton off the bottom of the table. Given that Brighton, currently fifth in the league, are unbeaten in five against the Saints, and dispatched champions Manchester City in their last fixture at the Amex, you’d have the hosts down as hot favourites tonight. Which they probably are. But Southampton gave a good account of themselves against table-topping Liverpool last weekend, and if they’re able to maintain that level of performance, a second win of the season would be perfectly possible. So while this south-coast derby isn’t exactly poised delicately, it’s not a total home banker either. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
