Expect Brighton in their usual 4-2-3-1, with Hurzeler's high-pressing trap ready to spring. The FPL predicted XI shows Verbruggen in goal, a back four of Wieffer, Vuskovic, Dunk, and Kadioglu, with Ayari and Groß in the double pivot. Hinshelwood, Gómez, and De Cuyper will be the half-space runners behind Rutter. That's a fluid, aggressive shape — full-backs pushing high, midfielders arriving late, and a constant stream of crosses into the box. They'll look to suffocate Villa from the first whistle.

Villa, under Emery, will likely mirror the 4-2-3-1 but with a more cautious brief. The predicted XI from football-lineups — Bizot; Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Cash, Maatsen; Hemmings, João Gomes, Kamara; Buendía, Guessand, Madjo — suggests a double pivot designed to protect against Brighton's press. But that's a lot of new faces. Lindelöf and João Gomes need time to gel. Kamara is class, but he can't do it all alone. The wide areas will be key: Brighton's De Cuyper and Kadioglu will bomb on, while Villa's full-backs will be pinned back. If Villa sit deep, Brighton will have all the ball. If they press, they'll leave gaps for Rutter to knife through. Either way, Brighton look the more coherent unit.