Brighton & Hove Albion will play against Chelsea at Falmer Stadium, and a win for Mauricio Pochettino’s side could earn them a Europa League spot.
Chelsea won their last match 3-2 against Nottingham Forest. This match was special for Chelsea fans as the fit-again Reece James and Raheem Sterling came on and showed their importance in the squad. Nicolas Jackson scored the winner in the 82nd minute through a fabulous assist from Reece James. Raheem Sterling also came on as a sub and scored seven minutes after coming on. Mykhailo Mudryk was also on the scoresheet for Chelsea.
Brighton played a 1-1 draw in their last fixture against Newcastle. Joel Veltman scored a goal for the Seagulls but this was not enough to land them three points. Julio Encisco had 5 shots in the game, but the Paraguayan were unable to find the back of the net.
Do you see Chelsea continuing their good run of form?
Brighton vs. Chelsea Preview
Brighton
Brighton finds themselves in the middle of the table, not excelling but not struggling either. Their highest possible finish is eighth position, but this depends on them defeating Manchester United on the last day of the season. However, it has been nearly three months since Brighton last scored more than one goal in a single match.
It remains to be seen if De Zerbi will continue his tenure on the South Coast in 2024-25, as Bayern Munich reportedly continues to pursue him. However, his current focus for Brighton’s upcoming match is to secure consecutive home victories in the league, a feat they haven’t accomplished since September.
Chelsea
Chelsea go to the Amex Stadium looking for their first back-to-back Premier League wins on the road since 2024. On Saturday, they denied Nottingham Forest the chance to solidify their status in the Premier League. If the Premier League table remains the same, 8th-placed Manchester United can ruin Chelsea’s chances of going to Europe by winning the FA Cup.
Pochettino’s team has gone 15 games without keeping a clean sheet in Premier League away games. They suffered a 4-1 loss in this fixture last season. However, the West London giants won 3-2 at Stamford Bridge in December.
Brighton vs. Chelsea Starting Lineups
Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk, Webster, Igor, Gilmour, Gross, Adingra, Pedro, Fati, Welbeck
Chelsea: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Gallagher, Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk, Jacks
Brighton vs. Chelsea Head-To-Head
Chelsea has won three of the last five matches between these sides and Brighton have won the other two games. These sides met earlier in December and Chelsea won 3-2 with Gallagher, Colwill, and Enzo Fernandez all finding the back of the net.
Also Read: Ligue 1 Awards 2023/24: A Season of Incredible Records and Achievements
Injury Report
Brighton defender Veltman had to leave the pitch due to an injury in their last match. It has also been confirmed by De Zerbi that Veltman will not be available for Wednesday’s match. Brighton will have to play their upcoming matches without Julio Encisco, Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood, Pervis Estupinan, James Milner, Evan Ferguson, and Jan Paul van Hecke, as all of them are currently sidelined with injuries.
Chelsea’s bench took on a more experienced spirit during their match against Forest, with Lesley Ugochukwu and captain Reece James making brief appearances. Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka have returned to full training. Unfortunately, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Enzo Fernandez are currently sidelined due to injury.
About the Author
Oladimeji has spent his entire life devoted to playing and watching sports of all kinds. From Soccer to Tennis to NBA and NFL, Oladimeji follows it all. Aside from football, Oladimeji loves writing, engaging in intellectual discourse, and sharpening his critical thinking skills. By his writing, he aspires to engage others in conversation and spread knowledge. Oladimeji’s commitment to his writing, sports, and personal interests reflects his well-rounded approach to life and his continuous pursuit of growth and excellence.
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