Less than a week after Brighton secured a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round, the two sides meet again at the Amex Stadium for a crucial Premier League clash.
While the Seagulls will be aiming for back-to-back wins over the Blues, Chelsea will be desperate to exact revenge and maintain their position in the top four.
Brighton Looking for a Reaction :
Brighton’s win over Chelsea last Saturday was a much-needed boost following their humiliating 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their previous league outing.
Fabian Hürzeler’s men now return to league action aiming to snap a five-match winless run at home (D3, L2), with their last home league victory coming in early December.
Interestingly, Brighton have fared well at the Amex against elite opposition this season, remaining unbeaten in home matches against sides starting the day in the top four (W2, D1).
That statistic, coupled with their confidence-boosting FA Cup win, could make them tricky opponents once again.
Chelsea’s Away Struggles Continue :
Despite sitting fourth in the table, Chelsea’s away form remains a concern.
Enzo Maresca’s men haven’t won on the road in any competition since mid-December (D2, L3), and with their remaining away fixtures coming against teams currently 11th or higher, they must turn things around quickly.
The Blues had built an impressive 12-match unbeaten streak (W9, D3) up until Christmas, but their form has dipped significantly since then.
Just two wins from their last seven league games (D2, L3) since Boxing Day have seen them lose momentum, making this trip to Brighton a crucial opportunity to get back on track.
That said, Chelsea have generally dominated this fixture in recent years, winning four successive H2Hs before their FA Cup defeat.
They also won the reverse league meeting 4-2, with Cole Palmer scoring all four goals in a stunning individual display.
Key Tactical Insights :
– Brighton’s pressing game: Hürzeler’s side will look to disrupt Chelsea’s build-up play with high pressing, much like they did in the FA Cup win.
– Chelsea’s response: Expect Maresca’s men to show more urgency after last week’s loss, likely focusing on exploiting Brighton’s defensive vulnerabilities.
– Midfield battle: Brighton will hope Georginio Rutter can continue his fine form against Chelsea, while the Blues will rely on Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer to dictate play.
Players to Watch :
– Georginio Rutter (Brighton): The summer signing has been directly involved in ten goals (G7, A3) this season, including three (G2, A1) against Chelsea this season.
– Cole Palmer (Chelsea): The Blues’ standout performer this season, Palmer scored four goals in the reverse league fixture and was also on target at the Amex last season.
– Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton): A key attacking outlet for Brighton, Mitoma’s pace and dribbling could trouble Chelsea’s full-backs once again.
Potential Lineups:
Brighton: 4-2-3-1 : Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Lamprey; Rutter, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck.
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 : Jorgensen; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku.
Key Stats :
– Brighton are unbeaten in home games against top-four sides this season (W2, D1).
– Chelsea have not won an away match since mid-December (D2, L3).
– Brighton have failed to win any of their last five home league games (D3, L2).
– Chelsea had won four successive H2Hs against Brighton before their FA Cup defeat.
Where to Watch:
United Kingdom: Sky Sports
United States: USA Network
Canada: Fubo TV
India: Star Sports Select HD1
Australia: Optus Sport.
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Score Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Chelsea
Conclusion:
With Brighton’s recent home struggles and Chelsea’s inconsistent away form, this game is tough to call.
The Blues will be determined to respond after last weekend’s cup defeat, but Brighton’s strong record against top-four sides at the Amex suggests they won’t go down without a fight.
