Saturday Premier League preview: Hammers face must-win clash

West Ham cannot afford to drop points at Brighton on Saturday as the battle for Champions League qualification goes to the wire.

Their clash is the final game of the day following Burnley's meeting with Leeds and Fulham's visit to Southampton.

Burnley vs Leeds (BT Sport, 12.30pm)

After securing Premier League safety with victory at Fulham on Monday night, Sean Dyche will be looking for Burnley to put their poor recent home record right against Leeds.

Their eight-game winless run at Turf Moor is the joint longest in the top flight and is the only blot on the Clarets' copybook after improving rapidly following a slow start. 

Dyche’s men took just five points from their opening nine games. But with a further 34 racked up since, they could finish as high as 13th.

And with Leeds losing their last three trips to Burnley, this looks an ideal chance for home woes to be put to bed.

However, the visitors are ending their impressive campaign in good form, with Marcelo Bielsa's men eyeing up a top-half finish.

Despite facing Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham in their past nine games, the Whites' only defeat in that spell came at Brighton. 

Chris Wood and Patrick Bamford both face former sides and will look to add to their impressive tallies of 12 and 15 top-flight goals respectively this term.

Liam Cooper (glutes) is the only player from either side who could return after missing the past four games.

Southampton vs Fulham (3pm, Sky Sports)

Scott Parker has to pick up his relegated troops for their final three games of the campaign, beginning with a trip to Southampton.

A dismal run of six defeats in seven meant a potentially exciting Premier League relegation battle turned into a foregone conclusion for the Cottagers, alongside beleaguered West Brom and long-gone Sheffield United.

And history suggests a trip to the South Coast will bring no respite, given Fulham’s only league victory at the Saints came back in 1935.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men have endured an equally difficult 2021 but victory over Crystal Palace in midweek will have given them plenty of confidence as they look to end a mixed campaign on a positive note.

Jan Bednarek (leg) is a doubt for Southampton, while Fulham may welcome Harrison Reed (unknown) and long-term absentee Tom Cairney (knee) back to the squad.

Brighton vs West Ham (8pm, Sky Sports)

Three points are a must for West Ham at Brighton if they are to keep their dreams of a top-four finish alive.

While Chelsea’s slip at home to Arsenal opened the door for the Hammers, who would close the gap to the Blues in fourth to three points by shooting down the Seagulls, Liverpool's victory at Manchester United means David Moyes' men now sit sixth in the table.

The absence of Declan Rice has hurt the Londoners badly and the 1-0 reverse at home to Everton was their third in four games — and the prospect of facing bogey team Brighton will not full them with joy.

It is the Seagulls' fourth consecutive season in the top flight and they are yet to lose against them, winning three and drawing four of their meetings to date.

With safety now assured and the pressure off, Graham Potter’s free-flowing style may ruffle the feathers of West Ham, Manchester City and Arsenal in Brighton's final three games.

Lewis Dunk and Neal Maupay are both suspended following red cards at Wolves but Adam Lallana and Joel Veltman (both calf) could return. Gicven the importance of the game, the visitors may risk Rice (knee)