Ipswich vs Brighton Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town believe they have a real chance of survival as they head into 2025 after a competitive opening half to the campaign with the Tractor Boys facing a difficult to beat Brighton and Hove Albion side at Portman Road this week.
Kick-off date/time: Thursday 16th January, 2025: UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – TNT Sports app / US – Peacock
Ipswich Team News: Szmodics now out
Kieran McKenna has confirmed that Ireland international attacker Sammie Szmodics, who has performed well for the Tractor Boys, has joined the strugglers' injury list 'for a while'.
He is now sidelined alongside fellow key attackers Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson as well as Chiedozie Ogbene and Axel Tuanzebe, whilst Massimo Luongo and George Hirst returned to the squad for their FA Cup win against Bristol Rovers at the weekend.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Walton; O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Johnson, Clarke, Burns; Delap
Unavailable: Tuanzebe (Injured), Ogbene (Injured), Hutchinson (Injured), Chaplin (Injured), Szmodics (Injured)
Questionable:
Brighton Team News: Several assessments needed
Key attacker Joao Pedro returned to training on Tuesday for Brighton and Fabian Hurzeler has said the Brazilian will be assessed ahead of the Seagulls trip to Portman Road on Thursday.
Both Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck are both fully fit and available for this week, too, whilst Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh will also have to be assessed, whilst the likes of Jack Hinshelwood, Mats Wieffer and Evan Ferguson are racing back to full fitness but all three are major doubts for this one.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Ayari, Baleba; Gruda, O'Riley, Adingra; Pedro
Unavailable: Igor (Injured), Kadioglu (Injured), Milner (Injured), Gomez (Injured)
Questionable: Lamptey (Illness), Wieffer (Fitness), Hinshelwood (Fitness), Rutter (Fitness), Minteh (Fitness), Pedro (Fitness), Ferguson (Fitness)
Ipswich vs Brighton Prediction
Ipswich Town come into this one on the back of a 3-0 hammering of League One side Bristol Rovers in Suffolk at the weekend thanks to three first-half goals from Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke and Jack Taylor. Prior to that win, Ipswich had taken four points from their games either side of the New Year with a win against Chelsea and a draw against Fulham. They face a Brighton and Hove Albion side that, coached by Fabian Hurzeler, led a Seagulls side that annihilated a Norwich City by four goals to nil at the Carrow Road in the third round of the FA Cup the other day. Brighton have been drawing too often in the league and started 2025 with a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, albeit with a much-improved performance. Brighton have a controlled style of football as they attempt to dominate possession and Ipswich may well find it tough to break them down in what could be a game defined by fine margins.
Ipswich vs Brighton Tip: Under 2.5 goals
