Aston Villa vs. Brighton: Premier League betting odds, prediction, pick

Villa Park will stage Wednesday’s mid-week Premier League meeting between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, a fixture that carries very different pressures for each side. Aston Villa, currently third on 47 points, remain mathematically in the title conversation but have seen their early-season momentum stall; Unai Emery’s team have taken only one win from their last five league outings and are nine points behind leaders Arsenal. Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth did little to ease the sense that Villa urgently need a victory to rekindle belief inside the dressing room and among supporters.

Brighton arrive in the West Midlands in 14th position with 31 points from 25 matches, seven clear of the relegation zone. Roberto De Zerbi’s side were beaten 1-0 at home by Crystal Palace on Sunday, stretching their winless league run to five games. The Seagulls have shown flashes of their customary attacking fluency but defensive lapses and a profligate touch in front of goal have cost valuable points.

Oddsmakers installed Villa as solid home favorites when markets opened, and that sentiment has held through match-week betting. According to numbers supplied by OddsWire, the hosts are priced to claim all three points, a result that would steady nerves and keep faint championship hopes alive. Editors monitoring line movement expect a tight, high-tempo affair, yet side with the claret and blue to edge it on home soil.

Prediction: Villa 2-1 Brighton

Betting pick: Aston Villa to win