Brighton vs Watford Premier League Match Preview
Brighton have never lost a home match against Watford in the top-flight (W1 D3), with just five goals scored in total in these four matches (three Brighton, two Watford).
The home side has won just three of the last 13 league meetings between Brighton and Watford (D6 L4), including none of the last three such matches between the sides since a 2-0 Watford win at Vicarage Road in August 2018.
Brighton ended last season with a run of five consecutive unbeaten home Premier League games, only once enjoying a run of six without defeat at the AMEX in the division, doing so between September and November 2017 under Chris Hughton.
Watford lost their last six away Premier League matches in the 2019-20 season, with only Norwich (6) earning fewer away points in the division that season than the Hornets (10). They last lost seven in a row in the top-flight in their final seven away games in 2016-17 under Walter Mazzarri.
Watford have scored an own goal in each of their last two Premier League games against Brighton, with Abdoulaye Doucoure in August 2019 and Adrian Mariappa doing so in February 2020. Only two teams have seen players score an own goal in three games in a row against an opponent: Aston Villa vs Charlton Athletic (1999-2001) and Arsenal vs Chelsea (2008-2009).
Only Manchester City (20) have won more league games in England’s top four tiers so far in 2021 than Watford (18).
Brighton are looking to win both of their opening two games to a top-flight season for the first time, in what is their ninth different top-flight campaign. The Seagulls last won their first two in any division in the 2015-16 Championship campaign.
Ismaila Sarr has scored five goals in his last six league appearances for Watford, and is looking to score in three consecutive league games for the Hornets for the very first time.
Brighton’s Neal Maupay scored against Burnley on MD1, ending a run of six Premier League games without a goal for the Frenchman. He’s looking to score in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 2020, while his first ever goal in the competition came against Watford in August 2019.
Emmanuel Dennis got a goal and assist, while Cucho Hernández scored just 53 seconds after coming off the bench on their Premier League debuts for Watford last time out. The only player to score in both of his first two Premier League appearances for the Hornets is Heidar Helguson, who did so in January 2000.
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