Luton team news: Fati won't be risked

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Albion head to the Hatters off the back of a 5-2 win in the Emirates FA Cup at Sheffield United.

Charlie Hanson

2024-01-29T14:00:00Z

Ansu Fati hasn't made an appearance for Albion since the 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest.

Albion will look to secure the win that would see them move up to sixth place in the Premier League when they take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.

Luton could climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since the beginning of December with a victory.

Team news

Speaking in his press conference on Monday afternoon, Roberto De Zerbi said, "The same squad is available to play [from Sheffield United], but maybe we change some players in the first XI. We are in good condition.

"Ansu Fati isn't available. It’s a risk and for him, especially for him because he’s important for us in the second part of the season, we can’t take any risks now."

Our last meeting

Albion got their campaign off to the perfect start with a 4-1 win over Luton on the opening day of the season at the Amex. Solly March, Simon Adingra, Joao Pedro and Evan Ferguson all got on the scoresheet, while Carlton Morris slotted home from the penalty spot late on for the visitors.

Player to watch

The signing of Ross Barkley just before the beginning of the season came out of the blue, but may prove to be the most important piece of business Luton will do this campaign. The England international has shone in a slightly deeper midfield role for Rob Edwards’s team, with his performances there leading to calls for a to return to Gareth Southgate's England squad. The 30-year-old is three appearances short of 250 in the Premier League.

The Premier League table

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Summary
Extended
Form

Pos

Team

Pld

Pts

Man City MCI

+62

Arsenal ARS

+62

Liverpool LIV

+45

Aston Villa AVL

+15

Spurs TOT

+13

Chelsea CHE

+14

Newcastle NEW

+23

Man Utd MUN

-1

West Ham WHU

-14

Crystal Palace CRY

-1

Albion Albion

-7

Everton EVE

-11

Bournemouth BOU

-13

Fulham FUL

-6

Wolves WOL

-15

Brentford BRE

-9

Nott'm Forest NFO

-18

Luton LUT

-33

Burnley BUR

-37

Sheffield Utd SHU

104

-69

Match stats

Luton have lost just one of their last 14 home league games against Brighton (W11 D2), though it was the last time they hosted them in April 2008 (1-2 in League One).

Brighton have won each of their last three league games against Luton, including a 4-1 victory on the opening weekend of this Premier League season. It’s their longest ever winning run against the Hatters.

Luton are yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of their Premier League games so far this season. However, they’ve scored 14 times in the final 15 minutes, accounting for a league-high 58% of their total Premier League goals this term (14/24).

All six of Luton’s home defeats this season have been a single goal, losing 1-0, 2-1 (three times), 3-2 and 4-3. They’ve kept one clean sheet at Kenilworth Road so far this term (1-0 v Newcastle), but have also only failed to score in one of their 10 home games (0-1 v Tottenham).

Having won their first two away league games by an aggregate score of 7-2 this season, Brighton have won just one of their subsequent eight on the road (D3 L4). They’ve conceded 17 goals across these eight games, while netting just nine in reply.

Brighton’s first two Premier League games of 2024 have both finished 0-0 – the Seagulls didn’t have a single goalless draw in the league in 2023 (41 games). They hadn’t kept a clean sheet in 23 Premier League games before this and are now looking to record three consecutive shutouts for the first time since August 2022.

After scoring in a club record 32 consecutive league games between March and December last year, Brighton have now failed to score in three of their last five. They could become the first ever top-flight team to start a calendar year with three consecutive 0-0 draws in the league.

If he plays, Kenilworth Road will be the 47th different ground at which Brighton’s James Milner has played a Premier League game. Only four players will have ever played at more different venues in the competition (Ryan Giggs 52, Gareth Barry 49, David James 48, Emile Heskey 48).

Alfie Doughty has five assists in the Premier League this season – no other Luton Town player has more than two. All five of his assists have been from crosses, with four of the goals being headers.

No player has created more chances in the Premier League this season than Brighton’s Pascal Gross (55, level with Bruno Fernandes). 14 of these have been for João Pedro, with only Mohamed Salah (20 for Darwin Núñez) and Moussa Diaby (15 for Ollie Watkins) creating more for a single teammate this term.

Match officials