Brighton vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Last weekend, Brighton and Hove Albion defeated Chelsea by two goals to one in the fourth round of the FA Cup and they now get ready to face each other in the Premier League.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 14th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Universo
Brighton Preview: Under pressure Hurzeler
A couple of weeks ago, Brighton suffered a 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and Seagulls supporters appear to have turned on their young coach Fabian Hurzeler with many suggesting that sort of result had been in the post given their performance level.
However, rather than allow for their poor form to grow, they managed to return to winning ways at the AMEX Stadium last weekend by beating upcoming opponents Chelsea by two goals to one in the cup via strikes from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma.
Chelsea Preview: Declining form at Chelsea
That defeat down on the south coast has continued Chelsea’s fairly average run of form that has gone back about a month and a half now from being well within the title race in the Premier League to FA Cup elimination joining a major slip in the English top-flight.
Enzo Maresca appeared to have his large squad looking well structured with a good composition and hierarchy in the first-half of the campaign but another busy window in terms of links and departures does leave things looking a little more confusing once again.
Brighton Team News: Dunk a doubt
Fabian Hurzeler has said he is 'not sure' about the involvement of captain Lewis Dunk for this weekend after the England international limped off against Chelsea last weekend. Mats Wieffer could be involved for the hosts, though, after the former Feyenoord man returned to training this week.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Webster, Lamptey; Hinshelwood, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Unavailable: Steele (Injured), Igor (Injured), Kadioglu (Injured), Estupinan (Injured), March (Injured), Milner (Injured)
Questionable: Dunk (Injured), Wieffer (Fitness)
Chelsea Team News: Jackson out
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Nicolas Jackson is not expected to return until the end of next month and his absence could be even longer than that. The Blues are also without fellow striker Marc Guiu, too, whilst Reece James has been confirmed as being fit having rested against Brighton in the cup last week.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
Unavailable: Fofana (Injured), Badiashile (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Mudryk (Disciplinary), Kellyman (Injured), Guiu (Injured), Jackson (Injured)
Questionable:
Brighton vs Chelsea Prediction
Brighton and Hove Albion begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top-half and still competing for a place in the European spots but the pressure has grown on Hurzeler because they have managed just two victories in their last 12 matches in the Premier League. Chelsea had to come from behind to defeat West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in their last league game and that was just their second win in their last eight matches in the league. Both sides have liked form in the league and are lacking a general control that they desire so both teams scoring would appear a good bet for this one at the AMEX, as was the case when they met last week.
Brighton vs Chelsea Tip: Both teams to score
