Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on ‘impossible’ Brighton v Newcastle United prediction

Former Premier League players Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have both predicted Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United to play out a score draw at the Amex Stadium.

The two sides meet on the South Coast in their fourth game of the 2023-24 Premier League season. Both teams suffered defeats last weekend with the Seagulls losing 3-1 at home to West Ham United and Newcastle surrendering a 1-0 lead to 10-man Liverpool at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side beat Brighton 4-1 in their penultimate home game of last season but Merson expects a much more even contest this time around by predicting a 2-2 draw.

“This one looks like a really good game,” Merson told SportKeeda. “The problem is that both teams are coming off bad results. Brighton got beaten by West Ham and Newcastle were beaten by 10-men Liverpool last week. As such, this is a massive football match for both teams. It’s quite hard to call this one.

“I can see plenty of goals in this game. Brighton have to make their possession count and be wary of the threat that Newcastle United possess on the counter.

“The Seagulls play some great football under Roberto de Zerbi. If Ansu Fati does join them, it’ll be a great deal for all parties involved and it will make them even stronger in attack.

“It also shows how far Brighton have come as a team. Fati is a youngster from Barcelona who was widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the game not long ago”

Meanwhile, Sutton called the game an “impossible” result to predict. Brighton qualified for the Europa League last season while Newcastle earned a Champions League spot.

Writing in his BBC Sport predictions column, the former Blackburn Rovers man said: “A lot was made of Newcastle losing to 10 men - Liverpool is a game you’d expect them to see through, especially after taking the lead.

Brighton ended up losing to West Ham and they play this expansive style of game; they like teams who come onto them and Newcastle will certainly do that.

It’s impossible to predict this one. I’ll go for a draw [1-1].”