Chelsea will travel to Amex Stadium this Tuesday evening to play Brighton and Hove Albion in the 24th round of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
Venue: Amex Stadium
Key Statistics
Brighton have won just one of their last seven home games (D4, L2).
The hosts have lost just one of their last nine games in all competitions (W3, D5).
Graham Potter’s side have scored just nine goals in ten home games this season. Only Norwich (7 goals in 11 home games) and Wolves (8 goals in ten home games) have averaged fewer goals per home game.
Chelsea have won just one of their last five league games (D3, L1).
The Blues have kept five clean sheets against Brighton in the Premier League.
They have conceded just seven goals away from home this season. No side has conceded less (level with Man City and Wolves).
Head to head
Chelsea are unbeaten in nine meetings between both sides in the Premier League, winning six times (D3) while scoring 18 goals and conceding just four times.
But they have won none of the last two meetings (D2).
Latest performances in all competitions
Brighton: D-W-W-D-W
Chelsea: L-W-W-W-D
Brighton
Graham Potter’s Brighton side have made a bright start to 2022 after winning two out of the three games they have played this year (D1).
Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace over the weekend. In a game they dominated, Brighton were made to rue this profligacy as they allowed Crystal Palace to go home with a valuable point.
Despite not having a shot on target in the first half of the game, Patrick Vieira’s side took the lead in the 69th through Conor Gallagher with their first and only attempt on target. But Potter’s men were spared by an own goal by Eagles defender Joachim Andersen in the 87th minute.
That draw extended the hosts unbeaten run in all competitions to five games and ensured that they come into this round of games sitting in the top half of the table.
‘The Seagulls’ are currently ninth on the table, five points behind the top six. Their aim for the season remains to finish within the top half, but a good result against Chelsea on Tuesday could see them move into eighth.
With two draws from their last two games against Chelsea, including a dramatic 1-1 draw the last time both teams met in their last game of 2021, the hosts will fancy their chances of getting a result from this game.
Possible Brighton starting line-ups
Robert Sanchez; Joel Veltman, Shane Duffy, Dan Burn; Tariq Lamptey, Alexis Mac Allister, Jakub Moder, Adam Lallana, Marc Cucurella; Leandro Trossard, Neal Maupay.
Injured: Jeremy Sarmiento, Lewis Dunk
Unavailable (AFCON): Yves Bissouma
Suspended: None
Chelsea
After a disappointing loss to Man City in their last outing, Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea will travel to the American Express Stadium looking to get back to winning ways.
The Blues were defeated 1-0 by Pep Guardiola’s side in an exciting clash that saw the London side match their opponents for much of the game.
However, despite their effort, their resistance and organisation were broken in the second half by a brilliant long-range goal by Kevin De Bruyne.
The result ended Chelsea’s eleven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and also halted their three-game-winning run. The loss, and Liverpool’s win against Brighton on Sunday means that the Blues come into this round of fixtures sitting in third place, six points ahead of West Ham in fourth.
With one win from their last five PL games, Chelsea’s title quest looks dead and buried. They are now 13 points behind City and could even drop out of the top four if they continue to pick up points at their current rate.
After toping the league for a considerable length of time this season, anything short of a top-two finish would seem like a failure to Tuchel. They will be desperate to win this game and keep their hopes of finishing within the top two alive.
Possible Chelsea starting line-ups
Kepa Arizaballaga; Malang Sarr, Thaigo Silva, Antonio Rudiger; Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Mattoe Kovacic, Marcos Alonso; Mason Mount, Kai Havertz; Romelu Lukaku.
Injured: Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Andre Christensen
Unavailable (AFCON): Edouard Mendy
Prediction
Brighton 1-1 Chelsea
