Paul Merson makes ‘Huge’ Lopetegui admission in West Ham v Brighton prediction
Paul Merson believes the decision to stick with Julen Lopetegui will come good should West Ham United beat Brighton.
The Spaniard scraped past the first of three make-or-break fixtures for the Hammers as Enes Unal’s 90th-minute free-kick denied the visitors the three points at the Vitality Stadium [16 December] after Lucas Paqueta gave the visitors a late lead from the penalty spot.
However, Merson believes Lopetegui can silence his doubters at the London Stadium on Saturday [21 December] and is backing West Ham United to secure the three points against Brighton in his Premier League predictions for Sportskeeda [19 December].
“If you look at these games, they were all winnable ones,” he said. “When you’re Brighton, you can’t be drawing games against Southampton and Leicester City. They also got destroyed by Crystal Palace last weekend. Brighton are on a downward spiral and I worry for them here against West Ham.
“I’m backing the Hammers to win this game. I thought they put in a decent performance in that draw away from home at Bournemouth last time out. The players really worked their socks off for that point. It would have been a huge boost to Julen Lopetegui.
“If West Ham beat Brighton, that would be seven points for them in three games. That’s a very good return and the kind of run they desperately need right now. Suddenly, the decision to stick with Lopetegui might start to look like a good one.
“But I do think he’ll continue to be under a lot of pressure because things will change quickly if they lose another game. Prediction: West Ham United 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion.”
Julen Lopetegui needs a win in West Ham United v Brighton
The Spaniard has passed arguably his biggest test in his last roll of the dice at West Ham by avoiding defeat on the South Coast.
Andoni Iraola has claimed the scalps of Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium this season and were widely expected to do the same against the struggling Hammers.
However, Lopetegui had other plans, and the visitors came so close to securing a monumental three points before Lukasz Fabianski was beaten from range after Konstantinos Mavropanos needlessly gave away the foul, leading to the equaliser with the three points seemingly secured.
Regardless, one point is better than none, and with Brighton heading to East London winless in their last four outings and reeling from a shock 3-1 loss against Crystal Palace, the Seagulls are there for the taking.
Should Lopetegui return to winning ways on the weekend, Southampton would be all that remains from the pivotal fixtures to decide his future and, despite the Irons’ struggles this year, they have the quality to easily dispatch the Saints at St Mary’s.
Lopetegui is not out of the woods at West Ham – far from it. Not long ago, the supporters were chanting for his dismissal against Leicester City, but there are positive signs.
The Spaniard could be in line to complete a remarkable turnaround at the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, a Yuri Alberto transfer update has been shared at the Irons amid a £25m development.
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