West Ham vs Brighton Player Ratings as Lucas Paquetá & Veltman Outshine Everyone in Thriller 2-2 Draw

West Ham started with only dominance in their mind, with Jarrod Bowen striking early. However, Brighton weren't equal to it as they were also determined to fight back. They climbed their way back into the match, winning two penalties in the first half, a bizarre sequence that saw Danny Welbeck coolly convert the first, then embarrassingly smash the second against the woodwork. Just when you thought the chaos was done, West Ham won a penalty of their own, and Lucas Paquetá stepped up to make it 1-1, all thanks to VAR drama.

The second half was just as wild, with Brighton pushing hard for the lead before Joël Veltman popped up at the back post from a corner to make it 2-2. In the end, a draw felt fair as both sides showed genuine quality but also moments of complete madness that had neutrals on the edge of their seats. A true Premier League classic: chaotic, unpredictable, and utterly entertaining. Here are the West Ham vs Brighton player ratings.

Lucas Paquetá Delivers Another Big Display in West Ham Player Ratings

Check out the West Ham player ratings for the West Ham vs Brighton fixture.

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola - 5.5: What stood out to us was his costly error leading to a goal, which you just can't have. He did make five saves, some of which were impressive. However, his distribution was atrocious, with only 27% pass accuracy. He looked shaky under pressure. It was a performance that ultimately cost his team two points.

Defenders

Kyle Walker-Peters - 6.0: A very mixed performance from the right-back. He was tidy in possession with 88% passing accuracy. But defensively, he was dribbled past three times and seemed to struggle. He won half his duels but didn't offer enough going forward to make up for his defensive lapses. An average day at the office.

Maximilian Kilman - 5.0: A really tough outing for Kilman. He conceded the first penalty with a clumsy challenge, earning a yellow card for his troubles. He managed six clearances but looked on edge for the entire 90 minutes. It felt like he was always one step behind the play. Definitely a game he will want to forget quickly.

Jean-Clair Todibo - 6.0: Was having a perfectly reasonable game before his match was cut short by injury. In his 45 minutes, he made two interceptions and looked composed. It’s hard to give a full rating, but he was doing his job without any fuss. West Ham missed his presence in the second half.

Oliver Scarles - 7.5: We thought he was one of West Ham's best players on the day. A real livewire down the left flank, he was a constant source of creativity. He created two big chances and put in seven crosses. He also did his defensive duties, making eight clearances and recovering the ball nine times. A very impressive all-around performance from the youngster.

Midfielders

Mateus Fernandes - 7.0: A proper engine room performance. He was everywhere, recovering the ball an incredible 11 times. His passing was neat and tidy for the most part. The only blot was an error that led to a shot and a yellow card. Still, his work rate was immense and crucial for the team.

Freddie Potts - 6.5: He was the quiet, steady presence in midfield. He kept the ball moving with an 82% pass accuracy and did his bit defensively with two tackles and two interceptions. He didn't dominate the game, but he didn't make any glaring mistakes either. A solid, if unspectacular, showing.

Soungoutou Magassa - 7.0: Looked really good before being substituted. We noticed his perfect tackle success rate, winning all three he attempted. He was very secure on the ball, with a 91% pass accuracy. He provided a solid shield for the backline. We were a bit surprised to see him taken off.

Jarrod Bowen - 7.5: Scored a fantastic opening goal with a clinical finish. As captain, he led by example with his relentless energy and pressing. He created a chance and completed three dribbles. He did miss a big chance later on, but his overall contribution was vital. A classic Bowen performance.

Lucas Paquetá - 8.0: West Ham's most influential player, without a doubt. He provided a beautiful assist for the first goal and then showed nerves of steel to convert his penalty. He was creative, winning eight duels and driving his team forward. However, he also conceded a penalty himself, which is the only reason his rating isn't higher.

Forwards

Callum Wilson - 5.5: From our perspective, he was largely anonymous. He only had 19 touches in 63 minutes and lost possession 11 times. He struggled to link up play and missed the one big chance that fell his way. It was no surprise when he was substituted.

Substitutes

Konstantinos Mavropanos (on 45') - 6.0: Came on for the injured Todibo and was steady enough, though the team did concede while he was on. Crysencio Summerville (on 63') - 6.5: Looked bright and forced a good save from the keeper. Tomás Soucek, Ezra Mayers, Mohamadou Kanté: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 6.5: His team started both halves with intensity. They showed plenty of attacking intent. However, conceding two leads and two penalties points to a defensive fragility that he needs to address. His game management was decent but ultimately not enough to secure the win.

Danny Welbeck Stood Out Despite Missed Penalty in Brighton Player Ratings

Check out the Brighton player ratings for the West Ham vs Brighton fixture.

Goalkeeper

Bart Verbruggen - 7.0: Couldn't do much about either goal, one being a great finish and the other a penalty. His distribution was almost flawless at 97% accuracy. He made two key saves, including a brilliant one to deny Bowen's header. A very confident and assured display from the Brighton keeper.

Defenders

Joël Veltman - 8.5: Our highest-rated player and Man of the Match. An absolutely outstanding performance. He scored the vital equalizer with a poacher's finish from a corner. Defensively, he was a rock, winning eight of his 13 duels and making three successful tackles. He was everywhere, contributing at both ends of the pitch. A complete performance.

Lewis Dunk - 7.0: A very eventful game for the captain. He won a penalty with a clever run, but then bizarrely conceded one at the other end. He was dominant in the air, winning six aerial duels, and made five interceptions. A true leader, even if his game had moments of both brilliance and clumsiness.

Jan Paul van Hecke - 6.0: A mixed bag. He was comfortable on the ball with 90% pass accuracy but struggled with West Ham's movement. He was dribbled past and lost a few key duels. It wasn't his most composed performance, and he seemed a little off the pace at times.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - 7.0: A constant threat down the left side. He created three chances and was always looking to be positive on the ball. He had 80 touches, showing his involvement in the game. Defensively, he was a bit suspect, being dribbled past three times, but his attacking contribution was significant.

Midfielders

James Milner - 5.0: A day to forget for the veteran. His glaring error led directly to West Ham's first goal. He looked off the pace throughout and picked up a booking for a frustrated challenge. He was substituted in the second half, and it was the right call. A very uncharacteristic and poor performance.

Yasin Ayari - 7.0: He was a bundle of energy in the midfield. He made four interceptions and wasn't afraid to have a shot, even if his radar was a bit off. He recovered the ball seven times and was a disruptive force against the West Ham midfield. A very busy and effective performance.

Diego Gómez - 6.0: He showed some nice touches and created two chances. However, he struggled physically, winning only two of his nine duels. He was dispossessed twice and couldn't quite impose himself on the game before being substituted. A decent effort but lacked impact.

Yankuba Minteh - 7.0: Looked incredibly dangerous before his game was cruelly ended by injury. He won the first penalty with his quick feet and direct running. It was a huge blow for Brighton to lose him, as he was causing all sorts of problems. What might have been.

Maxim De Cuyper - 6.0: He worked hard but lacked a cutting edge. He created one big chance but was otherwise quiet. From our perspective, he struggled to get into the game and was rightly replaced by the more dynamic Mitoma. Not a bad performance, just an ineffective one.

Forwards

Danny Welbeck - 6.5: What a strange game for Welbeck. He showed great composure to score his first penalty. Then, just minutes later, he inexplicably hit the crossbar with his second. That miss was a massive moment in the match. He worked hard but will be ruing that squandered opportunity.

Substitutes

Kaoru Mitoma (on 58') - 7.0: Changed the game with his directness and skill, providing the assists for two shots.

Brajan Gruda (on 58') - 6.5: Also added energy and intent to Brighton's attack.

Georginio Rutter (on 72') - 6.5: Forced a good save from Areola.

Jack Hinshelwood & Charalampos Kostoulas: Not long enough to rate.

Manager

F. Hürzeler - 7.0: We were impressed by his proactive approach. His team showed great character to come from behind twice away from home. His substitutions, particularly bringing on Mitoma, had a huge positive impact on the game. He'll be happy with a point but will know his side could have won.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Joël Veltman