Chelsea vs Brighton and Hove Albion – Match Preview and Team News

The Football Faithful

·28 settembre 2024

Chelsea vs Brighton and Hove Albion – Match Preview and Team News

Chelsea entertain Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge this Saturday with Enzo Maresca still searching for his first league win at home as Chelsea boss.

Despite the faltering form in front of their fans, the Blues have been efficient on their travels as they picked up another three points last Saturday lunchtime against London rivals West Ham.

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Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler will forced to watch his team from the stands, after the 31-year-old was dismissed late on in the match against Nottingham Forest last Sunday.

The Seagulls’ list of absentees is ever-growing as Joao Pedro joins the likes of Matt O’Riley, James Milner and Solly March on the injury list.

Chelsea vs Brighton – Match Preview and Team News

Form

Chelsea: LDWWW

Chelsea have discovered a positive run of form as new boss Enzo Maresca begins to imprint his ideas and tactics onto his new set of players.

They made light work of League Two outfit Barrow in the Carabao Cup during midweek, with Christopher Nkunku netting a hattrick and Pedro Neto recording his first goal for the club to help their side win 5-0.

Arguably the most encouraging aspect of their performances is the fact they have only conceded once in the last four games in all competitions, a conscious effort from Maresca to sure up a fragile defence.

But in the league at Stamford Bridge, the West Londoners lost to Manchester City on the opening day and disappointingly drew to Crystal Palace; rectifying that poor record at home will be at the forefront of Maresca’s mind.

Brighton: WDDWD

Fabian Hurzeler’s managerial record in English football remains unblemished with the Seagulls being one of only four Premier League teams still unbeaten.

The managerial prodigy has had an instant impact on the South Coast with his style of play introducing more control and measure into Brighton’s performances compared to last year.

However, the German will be disappointed with how things went last weekend, as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw with fellow unbeaten side Nottingham Forest.

Chris Wood had opened the scoring inside a quarter of an hour, but the Seagulls responded with vengeance through two quick-fire goals.

Academy graduate Jack Hinshelwood nodded in the leveller before Danny Welbeck continued his prolific goalscoring form with a clever free-kick that caught out the flat-footed Matz Sels.

But after the interval, Forest restored parity with an incisive counter attack that exposed the vast gaps in the Brighton defence, which was finished off by summer recruit Ramon Sosa.

Read – Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend

Last Meeting

Brighton 1-2 Chelsea, Premier League, 15th May 2024

The penultimate contest of last season for the two sides resulted in Chelsea attaining all three points on the South Coast.

Cole Palmer netted the 25th goal of his PFA Young Player of the Year-winning campaign as his inventive header sallied past Bart Verbruggen.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men then doubled the deficit in the second period with a goal made in France as Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku linked up well to result in the latter tapping home the Blues’ second.

The visitors gave their opponents an avenue back into the contest late on as captain Reece James petulantly kicked out at Joao Pedro to earn himself a dismissal with two minutes left on the clock.

Brighton then finally introduced themselves into proceedings and after Simon Adingra had hit the woodwork with a well struck volley, Danny Welbeck halved the two goal cushion with a close-range finish.

However, that strike only ended up being a consolation as Chelsea collected a valuable three points in their pursuit of the European spots.

Predicted Line-ups

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson

Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Wieffer, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Welbeck

Read – Chelsea predicted lineup and team news vs Brighton

Who is the referee?

The match official will be Peter Bankes. He will be assisted by Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh while David Webb will be the fourth official. The VAR is Michael Oliver and he will be assisted by Natalie Aspinall.