Newcastle vs Brighton

Newcastle United welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Tyneside on Thursday night for a mouthwatering clash between two of the Premier League's top six.

That's not a sentence many people would have thought they would be reading with just a few games of the season remaining, but the Magpies and Seagulls have been absolutely sensational under Eddie Howe and Roberto De Zerbi - the latter building on the foundations laid by Graham Potter in the opening weeks of 2022/23.

Newcastle have lost just twice at home all season, conceding 13 in 17 games, while Brighton have the fourth best away record in the Premier League - winning eight times and scoring a whopping 33 goals.

That should mean we're in for an entertaining clash between two sides looking to sew up places in the Champions League and Europa League respectively.

Here's everything you need to know about the game.

Last meeting: Brighton 0-0 Newcastle - 13th August 2022

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event

United States

USA Network, Universo, fuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Sling Latino

Canada

fuboTV Canada

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe may choose to recall Jacob Murphy to the starting lineup after rotating Miguel Almiron back into the side against Leeds.

Allan Saint-Maximin looked bright in a cameo from the bench on Saturday but his lack of end product means Alexander Isak and the in-form Callum Wilson are unlikely to see their places threatened.

Sean Longstaff, Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are injured, though the latter is the only player who may have had a chance of featuring from the off given his form earlier this season.

Newcastle predicted lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier (c), Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Willock, Joelinton; Murphy, Wilson, Isak.

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Brighton will again be without influential winger Solly March (hamstring) although Julio Enciso's emergence has softened that particular injury blow.

Adam Webster is struggling with a knock and that could see Levi Colwill again partner Lewis Dunk in the centre of defence.

Roberto De Zerbi's big selection headache could come up front. Denis Undav scored a goal and created one in a ten-minute cameo against Arsenal, but Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck haven't really done anything wrong of late and are viable candidates to play from the off.

Brighton predicted lineup (4-3-3): Steele; Caicedo, Dunk (c), Colwill, Estupinan; Gilmour, Gross, Mac Allister; Enciso, Mitoma, Undav.

Two of the Premier League's most entertaining teams clash with plenty on the line.

A win for Newcastle would do wonders for their Champions League aspirations while the same can be said for Brighton's Europa League dreams if they secure all three points.

There's very little between the two sides form wise - both have won three of their last five games - but Brighton's ability to get results against top sides may render Newcastle's excellent home record insignificant.

A tense but potentially quality affair could end with honours even.