Fabian Hurzeler wants Brighton to be more ruthless as they look to keep up their charge for European football against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Brighton are currently seventh in the table, but if they win and other results go their way on Wednesday, they could move into the top four.

They are unbeaten in their last five matches in the top flight, though they come into this game having been knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Nottingham Forest on penalties on Saturday.

Brighton struggled to create openings against Forest in their 0-0 draw across 120 minutes, something Hurzeler is keen to improve against Villa.

"It's a duel where we know that it will be a big fight," he said. "We know what Villa look like – a very mature team, very experienced team. They want to get into Europe [through the Premier League].

"We have to play very maturely. We have to play with a big intensity. We can't play soft like we played in some moments against Nottingham Forest.

"We have to be more ruthless, and that's what we have to improve in comparison with the game before. Then I'm sure that we have a big chance tomorrow."

Villa, meanwhile, sit two points and two places below Brighton and would leapfrog their opponents with a win on Wednesday.

They have won their last five matches in all competitions, including a 3-0 win over Preston North End in the FA Cup on Sunday to book a place in the semi-finals.

With a Champions League quarter-final also on the horizon, Unai Emery is excited by the challenge the end of the season poses.

"We're excited and demanding ourselves to be focused for the last two months in three competitions," Unai Emery said.

"In the last matches, we are getting better. [Wednesday] is a very good test again for how we can be more consistent, playing at the level we want to achieve.

"There are a lot of teams there fighting for these positions. In the FA Cup, we're playing a semi-final, and in the Champions League, a quarter-final – it's amazing how we are facing the last part of the season."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brighton – Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro has more goal involvements against Aston Villa (four – one goal, three assists) than any other opponent in the Premier League.

The Brazilian has scored in both of his last two home league games (both penalties); the only players to score in 3+ successive home appearances in the Premier League for the Seagulls are Glenn Murray (twice in 2018), Pascal Gross (Aug 2018), Neal Maupay (Oct 2019), and Danny Welbeck (Oct 2024).

Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins

Ollie Watkins has scored 13 Premier League goals this season, with 11 of them either equalising (six) or giving Aston Villa the lead in a match (five).

Only Mohamed Salah (14), Erling Haaland (14), and Alexander Isak (12) have more equalising and lead-taking goals combined in the competition in 2024-25.

MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN

Brighton have won just one of their five Premier League home games against Aston Villa (D2 L2), though it did come in this exact fixture last season (1-0 in May).

The Seagulls are in good form at home. They have won each of their last three Premier League games at the Amex Stadium and are looking to win four home matches in a row for the very first time in the top-flight.

After winning five consecutive Premier League games against Brighton between November 2021 and September 2023, Villa are now winless in their last two against them (D1 L1).

Villa have won two of their last three league games (L1), as many as their previous nine beforehand (W2 D5 L2). The Villans are looking to win back-to-back away games in the Premier League for the first time since winning their first two such outings of this season.

This game looks like it will promise goal-mouth action, too. Villa and Brighton have both scored and conceded in 20 of their 29 Premier League games this season, with only Fulham’s games seeing both teams score more often in the division this campaign (21).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 45.4%

Draw – 24.6%

Aston Villa – 30%