Both still undefeated in the 2024-25 Premier League season, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest endeavour to continue their eye-catching starts in Sunday's clash at the Amex Stadium.
Neither side can be separated in terms of points with eight apiece after four games, although the Seagulls are one place better off in the embryonic rankings courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Match preview
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Across both competitive and non-competitive matches, following an unbeaten friendly period, the young but wily Fabian Hurzeler is yet to experience that sinking feeling of defeat as Brighton boss, although last week's draw with Ipswich Town was certainly two points lost rather than one gained.
As much as Brighton huffed and puffed, the Arijanet Muric-inspired Tractor Boys held firm to leave the South Coast with a point from a creditable goalless stalemate, as the Seagulls made it back-to-back draws in the top flight following their controversial 1-1 versus Arsenal before the international break.
However, Saturday's hosts rediscovered their golden touch in front of goal in the EFL Cup in midweek, as Carlos Baleba, Simon Adingra and Ferdi Kadioglu's strikes proved telling in a 3-2 third-round win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, who registered through Goncalo Guedes and Tommy Doyle to no avail.
Sixth in the early-season standings on account of their terrific start, Brighton could now achieve something that no iteration of a Seagulls team has ever done before - go unbeaten in their first five games of a top-flight season.
The hosts have not enjoyed such a streak since the 2015-16 Championship campaign, and while four defeats from their last seven Premier League home games is unsightly at a first look, those losses came to established big boys in Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.
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Nottingham Forest evidently need no lessons in stunning the big guns, though, as Nuno Espirito Santo unexpectedly condemned new Liverpool boss Arne Slot to his first competitive defeat in the Anfield chair last weekend, overseeing a hugely impressive 1-0 victory.
The Garibaldi squared up to a Liverpool team who had won each of their first three games of the campaign without conceding a single goal, but a combination of wasteful Reds finishing, Matz Sels in the Forest goal and - of course - the sublime Callum Hudson-Odoi winner brought Liverpool's dream start to a grinding halt.
Only a lower goals scored tally is keeping seventh-placed Forest adrift of upcoming opponents Brighton in the fledgling standings, but unlike Saturday's hosts, the Tricky Trees have come out on the wrong end of a scoreline this term, losing their EFL Cup opener to Newcastle United on penalties.
Every cloud has a silver lining, though, as Forest make the long trip south having had a full week to prepare for Sunday's game, where they are seeking a remarkable fifth straight away win in the top flight - they have never achieved that feat in the Premier League era.
However, the visitors to the Amex fell short in both meetings with Brighton last season, suffering a 3-2 home loss before being bested 1-0 on the South Coast in March, and not since February 2015 - a 3-2 victory of their own - have they scored a goal on the Seagulls' turf.
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Team News
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Absent from Brighton's last two matches with a minor injury, Joao Pedro is still touch and go for the visit of Forest, although Hurzeler revealed on Friday morning that the Brazilian attacker should take part in team training before the match.
Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Matt O'Riley (ankle) and Brajan Gruda (unspecified) are all making progress in their respective recoveries too, but Hurzeler confirmed that none of them will feature on Sunday.
Only Yankuba Minteh, Jack Hinshelwood and Baleba started both the draw with Ipswich and the win over Wolves, and Hurzeler will no doubt ring the changes once more, as Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter - cup-tied in midweek - and Kaoru Mitoma return to the final third.
As for Forest, Danilo - who will spend months out with his ankle injury from the opening weekend - will have company in the treatment room for the next several weeks, as Ibrahim Sangare is supposedly facing a while out with a torn hamstring.
Sangare's compatriot Willy Boly represents the third and final fitness concern for the Garibaldi, and even though the defender's calf problem will not settle down in time for the weekend, Santo has confirmed that he is "really close" to returning.
In terms of personnel changes, Hudson-Odoi will almost certainly return to the fold up front after his well-taken winner at Anfield, while Anthony Elanga - also dropped to the bench against Liverpool - ought to take the place of Nicolas Dominguez too.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Minteh, Baleba, Wieffer, Mitoma; Welbeck, Rutter
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Ward-Prowse, Yates; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Forest have been nothing if not consistent in the final third so far this season, scoring exactly one goal in each of their five games so far, and there is every chance that streak could continue even at a ground where attacking proficiency has often eluded them.
After struggling to blow the Ipswich door down, even a refreshed Brighton side could come unstuck versus a Forest defence who magnificently held firm against Liverpool, and both sides' unbeaten streaks could continue in an uneventful draw.
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Ben Knapton
