Brighton and Chelsea face off in a high-stakes FA Cup fourth-round clash, with both teams aiming for a spot in the next stage.
Image credit: Frank Khalid OBE
The FA Cup fourth round brings an all-Premier League battle as Brighton & Hove Albion host Chelsea on Saturday night.
The Seagulls will be eager to bounce back from a humiliating 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest and seek revenge for their 4-2 loss to Chelsea earlier this season.
Meanwhile, the Blues aim to maintain momentum after their 2-1 comeback win over West Ham in the Premier League.
Brighton: A Test of Character
After an impressive start to the season with victories over Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham, Brighton’s form has dipped.
Their 7-0 defeat at Forest was their worst result in 67 years, leaving them 10th in the Premier League and six points adrift of the top seven.
Manager Fabian Hurzeler is under pressure to spark a turnaround. The Seagulls have lost their last four matches against Chelsea, but they have advanced from five of their last six FA Cup fourth-round ties since 2017.
Can they rediscover their form and upset the eight-time FA Cup winners?
Chelsea: Eyeing Another FA Cup Run
Chelsea recovered from their 3-1 defeat at Manchester City with a crucial 2-1 win over West Ham, climbing to fourth in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s men have shown resilience, collecting 13 points from losing positions this season.
However, their away form remains a concern—winless in their last four matches on the road (D2 L2).
Yet, they have won seven of their last 11 trips to Brighton and hold a strong FA Cup record against the Seagulls, winning their previous two encounters in the competition.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Brighton Team News
Injuries continue to plague Brighton, with Jason Steele (shoulder), Igor Julio (hamstring), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), James Milner (thigh), and Solly March (muscle) all ruled out. New signing Eiran Cashin could debut in defense.
Diego Gomez and Matt O’Riley are pushing for midfield starts after Hurzeler’s failed one-man midfield experiment against Forest.
🔹 Predicted Brighton XI:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Cashin, Lamptey; O’Riley, Hinshelwood; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea remain without Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended), Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman (both hamstring), Romeo Lavia, and Benoît Badiashile (both thigh). Nicolas Jackson (hamstring) and Marc Guiu (groin) are also doubtful.
Christopher Nkunku could start as the No. 9, while Cole Palmer, who netted four against Brighton earlier this season, is set to play a key role.
🔹 Predicted Chelsea XI:
Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku.
Prediction
Brighton’s fragile defense and Chelsea’s attacking depth suggest an uphill battle for the hosts. With the Seagulls winning just one of their last eight home games, Chelsea look poised to take advantage.
🔹 Our Prediction: Brighton 1-3 Chelsea
Can Brighton pull off an upset, or will Chelsea’s FA Cup dominance continue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!