Chelsea is seeking revenge against Brighton.
Image credit: Premier League
Just days after their FA Cup showdown, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will face off once again—this time in a crucial Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium.
For Chelsea, revenge is on the cards. Their FA Cup dreams were shattered in a narrow defeat last Saturday, and Enzo Maresca’s men will be eager to set the record straight.
Meanwhile, Brighton will be riding high, having snapped a four-game losing streak against the Blues.
Can Chelsea reclaim their dominance, or will Brighton prove their cup win was no fluke?
Brighton’s Resurgence
Brighton’s FA Cup victory came at a perfect time.
Despite an early goalkeeping error gifting Chelsea a lead, Brighton responded brilliantly. Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma sealed the win, ensuring a much-needed boost before their upcoming league battles.
However, Brighton’s Premier League form remains shaky.
They’ve won just two of their last 12 league games (D6, L4), and their home struggles are a concern—they haven’t won at the Amex in five straight league matches.
With a tough FA Cup fifth-round clash against Newcastle on the horizon, can Brighton build momentum with another strong performance?
Chelsea’s Top-Four Fight
With their FA Cup run over, Chelsea must focus on the league and the Conference League. Sitting in fourth place, they are just two points ahead of Man City and Newcastle—meaning every point is crucial.
But there’s a problem: Chelsea’s away form has dipped.
Since their thrilling 4-3 win over Tottenham in December, they have failed to win any of their last four Premier League away matches.
Their history at the Amex also isn’t great—Chelsea have failed to win in three of their last four league visits to Brighton.
However, they do have the upper hand in recent meetings, having completed a league double over Brighton last season.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Brighton’s Injury Concerns
Brighton could be without several key players:
- Jason Steele, Ferdi Kadioglu, Igor Julio, James Milner, and Solly March are all sidelined.
- Pervis Estupiñán and Mats Wieffer remain doubtful.
- Lewis Dunk’s availability is uncertain after his rib injury in the FA Cup tie.
Diego Gomez is pushing for a start after impressing off the bench.
Chelsea’s Selection Dilemma
The Blues have their own injury issues:
- Wesley Fofana, Benoît Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Omari Kellyman, and Marc Guiu are ruled out.
- Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended due to a provisional doping ban.
- Reece James is set to return, while Nicolas Jackson is out for six weeks.
Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernández, and Noni Madueke could return to the starting XI. Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Filip Jorgensen is now Chelsea’s number one goalkeeper. So, he’s expected to start.
Projected Lineups
Brighton (4-2-3-1):
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Webster, Lamptey; Baleba, Gomez; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku.
Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Chelsea
Chelsea will be desperate for a response, but Brighton’s resilience at home and their recent FA Cup victory suggest they won’t go down easily.
With Brighton’s tendency to draw at home (six in 11 matches this season), a 2-2 stalemate seems likely.
Can Chelsea reclaim their form, or will Brighton stun them again?
Let us know your predictions!