Michael Owen makes worrying prediction for Ben White and Brighton at Leeds

Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen expects Brighton and Hove Albion's Premier League struggles to continue as they travel to Leeds this Saturday.
Michael Owen feels Brighton will be 'picked off' by Leeds at Elland RoadMichael Owen feels Brighton will be 'picked off' by Leeds at Elland Road
Michael Owen feels Brighton will be 'picked off' by Leeds at Elland Road

The lowly Seagulls have gone nine top-flight games without victory and sit two points above the drop zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to Elland Road.

Despite their poor form, Brighton have so far managed to stay out of the bottom three, although 18th-placed Fulham have two games in hand.

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The Seagulls have drawn a league-high eight games this season and are yet to win on home soil.

Leeds have enjoyed a solid start since ending their 16-year exile from the Premier League but suffered FA Cup humiliation at the hands of League Two side Crawley last weekend.

The Whites will be without suspended midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Phillips received his fifth booking of the season in the recent defeat at Tottenham and sits out a one-game ban.

Forward Tyler Roberts has recovered from illness and is back in contention, while defenders Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente are also available.

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Brighton are missing Tariq Lamptey (hamstring), Aaron Connolly (hamstring), Danny Welbeck (knee), Adam Lallana (illness) and Ali Jahanbakhsh is out with a 'minor injury.'

Brighton do however welcome back Yves Bissouma and Ben White is set to feature against his old teammates following his successful loan at Leeds last season.

"Leeds are looking to get back on track after last weekend’s FA Cup horror show at Crawley Town," wrote Owen in his BetVictor predictions blog.

"Marcelo Bielsa’s men were well out of sorts and I’m sure the manager will have put his players through their paces in training this week.

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"Brighton travel in desperate need of points. They continue to flatter to deceive and unless they start finding the net, their nice style of play will count for nothing.

"I think this match could be set up for Leeds to win. Brighton like to attack and if they do, I’d expect the Elland Road side to pick their opponents off and win comfortably."

Michael Owen prediction: Leeds 3-1 Brighton