Burnley v Brighton: Clarets can avoid defeat, despite outsider status

Dan Fitch can't see why Brighton are favourites here when Burnley have home advantage and thinks that the points will be shared.

Burnley have yet to make major moves

Burnley's season starts on Saturday with a home game against Brighton and once again they are amongst the favourites to be relegated.

The Clarets are rated as the fifth favourites to go down at 3.15. Last season they finished only one position above the relegation zone, albeit with a nine point cushion.

Burnley's hopes of improving upon last season's performance are not helped by their lack of transfer activity. Wayne Hennessey, Jacob Bedeau and Nathan Collins have been brought in, but all are additions that will improve the squad, rather than Sean Dyche's starting eleven. Dyche will hope for new signings before the transfer window closes and with only one-year left on his contract, there is pressure on Burnley's American owner to deliver.

The good news for Dyche is that he starts this season without too many injury worries. Kevin Long and Dale Stephens will be unavailable on Saturday as they recover from injury.

Seagulls add to midfield strength

Like their opponents, Brighton haven't been too busy in the transfer market this summer, but it looks likely that one new signing will be in Graham Potter's lineup on Saturday.

Enock Mwepu has been brought in from Red Bull Salzburg and seems set to start alongside Yves Bissouma in central midfield. Potter has never really settled on a partner for Bissouma and Mwepu looks to have the right blend of defensive nous and attacking ability, to make Brighton stronger in midfield this season.

Other than Mwepu, Brighton have picked up the goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen from Ajax. With Ben White having been sold to Arsenal for £50m over the summer, there should be funds for further reinforcements to be brought in, over the next couple of weeks.

Brighton might have lost White, but they managed to hang on to their manager, who was linked with Spurs and Everton over the summer. Potter will be without the injured Scherpen, Tariq Lamptey, Dan Burn and Danny Welbeck for the trip to Turf Moor.

Burnley underrated

Brighton are the 2.6 favourites, with the draw and a Burnley win, both priced at 3.2.

Considering that Brighton only finished one place and two points above Burnley last season, these odds look a little insulting for the hosts. Dyche may not have much in the way of options, but it's likely that he will be able to name a full-strength team on Saturday.

Last season this fixture ended in a 1-1 draw and the stalemate could be the best bet at 3.2, at the very least from a trading position, in what should be a tight game. Burnley are available at 1.61 to avoid defeat in the Double Chance market.

Olympian can get off to a flying start

A low scoring game looks likely again, with Brighton having become a much more secure defensive unit over the course of last season.

Under 2.5 goals is too short to recommend at 1.62. The 0-0 half-time score is an option worth considering though, at odds of 2.54.

If looking for a goalscorer, Burnley's Chris Wood is easily the best candidate. Wood played at the Olympics with the New Zealand team, scoring two goals in four games. He should be fitter than most strikers right now and is 2.86 to find the net.