Chelsea vs Brighton: Match Preview, Latest Team News and Score Prediction | OneFootball

Chelsea and Brighton Set for Intriguing Premier League Clash at Stamford Bridge

The Premier League returns this weekend with one of its more compelling modern rivalries as Chelsea host Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Both sides enter the contest with points to prove, not least their managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler, each navigating the pressures of a second season in charge.

Recent Form Shapes Pre-Match Narrative

Chelsea’s recent performances have left Maresca openly dissatisfied. The Italian has been frank about the need for improvement, yet his plans for Saturday’s 3pm BST kick-off are complicated by an injury-hit squad and the looming Champions League trip to Benfica on Tuesday. Cole Palmer remains a doubt with a groin problem, while Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile, Dario Esugo and Romeo Lavia continue their lengthy recoveries.

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Brighton arrive in west London buoyed by a resounding 6-0 win over Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. Diego Gomez, the Seagulls’ summer signing, stole the headlines with four goals in that match and could feature again this weekend. Brighton’s morale is high despite a mixed run of league results, and they will be confident of troubling a Chelsea side under scrutiny.

Selection Dilemmas and Key Absences

Maresca’s biggest challenge will be balancing his strongest possible line-up against the necessity of keeping key players fresh for European competition. Robert Sanchez is available again after suspension and is expected to replace Filip Jorgensen, who endured a torrid outing in the defeat to Lincoln. Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella all face their former club, though rotation is likely for at least one of them.

Brighton’s injury list still features Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March and Adam Webster, but Maxim De Cuyper’s progress in his recovery from a knee issue offers some encouragement. Meanwhile, Chelsea loanee Facundo Buonanotte is ineligible to play against his parent club, which limits Hurzeler’s attacking options from the bench.

Rivalry with Added Edge

The rivalry between these two clubs has intensified in recent years, largely due to Chelsea’s repeated recruitment of Brighton players and staff. Encounters between the sides have since carried an extra edge, and Brighton will remember last season’s successes with confidence. In the space of six days, the Seagulls knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win before defeating them 3-0 in the Premier League.

Overall, Chelsea have recorded 16 wins in this fixture compared with Brighton’s four, while five meetings have ended level. Yet the recent momentum in head-to-head contests favours the south-coast side.

Score prediction: Brighton 2-2 Chelsea