Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Ipswich Town vs Brighton
Kickoff Time: 2025-01-17 03:30 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/John Sibley
Ipswich Town swept aside League One side Bristol Rovers with a 3-0 victory at home in the FA Cup last weekend, marking an unbeaten streak of two wins and one draw in their last three matches. As a newly promoted team, Ipswich’s overall strength cannot be compared to that of other Premier League teams, and their tactical approach tends to be conservative. Ipswich primarily employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, using dense defending to compress their opponents’ attacking space and looking for opportunities to launch quick counterattacks. Their offensive play relies heavily on breakthroughs from the wings, while they also take advantage of crosses and aerial threats, creating scoring opportunities through simple and direct attacking methods. Notably, Ipswich’s top scorer, Liam Delap, has scored eight league goals so far, making him the key player in the team’s attack.
Brighton secured a 4-0 away victory against Championship side Norwich City in the FA Cup last weekend, finally ending their eight-match winless streak in the league. However, their recent performances have been impacted by injuries, leading to a decline in form. Several players, including Evan Ferguson, Mats Wieffer, Jack Hinshelwood, and Ferdi Kadioglu, still do not have a clear timeline for their return. The good news is that top scorer Danny Welbeck has recovered from injury and returned to the pitch, which will significantly enhance Brighton’s attacking power. Brighton also plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, and under Fabian Hurzeler’s coaching, the team’s pressing efficiency without the ball has greatly improved this season. They have shown a very aggressive approach when not in possession and have been bold and daring in their ball control.
Although Brighton’s recent performances have not been ideal, their overall strength remains superior to that of Ipswich. Coupled with Brighton’s recent resurgence in form, their morale has also improved. Considering all factors, it would be reasonable to expect Brighton, who is regaining the form, to secure all three points in this match.
Ipswich Town’s Last 5 Games: WDWLL
25-01-12 Ipswich Town 3-0 Bristol Rovers
25-01-05 Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
24-12-31 Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea
24-12-28 Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town
24-12-21 Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle United
Brighton’s Last 5 Games: WDDDD
25-01-11 Norwich City 0-4 Brighton
25-01-05 Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
24-12-31 Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton
24-12-28 Brighton 0-0 Brentford
24-12-21 West Ham United 1-1 Brighton
Head To Head Record:
24-09-14 Brighton 0-0 Ipswich Town
17-02-15 Brighton 1-1 Ipswich Town
16-09-28 Ipswich Town 0-0 Brighton
15-12-30 Brighton 0-1 Ipswich Town
15-08-29 Ipswich Town 2-3 Brighton
Prediction: Brighton to win