Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea: EPL Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

Six days after their FA Cup horn-locking, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will resume fighting following their Friday Premier League match at the Amex Stadium.

Following a limited loss in Saturday's cup match, the visitors will return to the South Coast with a vengeance first in their thoughts.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

After they entered the fourth-round fixture off successive Premier League losses, including a depressing 7-0 setback against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, Brighton got a much-needed confidence boost from their recent meeting with Chelsea.

When a Bart Verbruggen error gave Chelsea a fifth-minute lead at the Amex Stadium, Fabian Hurzeler would have been worried that his team would have another challenging trip; fortunately, Georginio Rutter swiftly leveled the scoreline before Kaoru Mitoma scored a second-half winner to stop a four-game losing run in competitive games with Chelsea.

With the Seagulls scheduled to play Newcastle United at St James' Park later this month for a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Brighton can eagerly await making their third straight fifth-round appearance.

Knowing they must start a good run of results to qualify for European play for the second time in three seasons, Brighton will concentrate on a rematch with Chelsea and games against Bournemouth and Southampton before then.

Just two wins in their last 12 top-flight games (D6, L4) mark the tenth-placed side's relative contrast to the initial few months of the season, when they won six, drew four, and lost just two of their first twelve Premier League games.

Having defeated Man City 2-1 in November, they will enter Friday's game without a victory in five straight home league games, even if they had beaten Chelsea at the Amex Stadium in the cup.

After their FA Cup campaign came to a dismal end on Saturday's trip to the Amex Stadium, Chelsea will concentrate on the Premier League and Conference League for the rest of the season, effectively negating their prospects of winning the trophy for the first time since 2017-18.

He must travel in the Conference League if Enzo Maresca wins a title in his debut season on the Stamford Bridge bench.

With the visitors seated in fourth place in the Premier League table and just two points clear of Manchester City and Newcastle United in fifth and sixth position, respectively, Chelsea will first and foremost continue their Champions League qualifying bid in Friday's rematch against Brighton.

Should they retain a top-four position, the Blues will have to improve their travels. They have lost all four Premier League away games since winning a seven-goal thriller against Tottenham Hotspur on December 8.

Although they did win 2-1 in their most recent Premier League game at the Amex Stadium in May 2024, they will be mindful that ending that barren streak in Friday's match would be difficult, having failed to win three of their previous road meetings with Brighton.

Following Cole Palmer's match-winning showing in the reverse game scored all four of Chelsea's goals in a 4-2 triumph at Stamford Bridge in September, the visitors do have the potential to accomplish a league double against Brighton for the second season in a row.

Brighton & Hove Albion x Chelsea Team News

Although the latter is said to be closing in on a return to action, the hosts are unable to rely upon the talents of Jason Steele (shoulder), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio (hamstring), James Milner (hamstring), and Solly March (muscle).

Neither Pervis Estupinan (muscle) nor Mats Wieffer (knee) were ready to play in Saturday's cup tie; it will be interesting to see whether they can show their health in time for Friday's rematch.

After being taken out at halftime in the fourth-round encounter with a rib injury, Lewis Dunk will have to be evaluated by Brighton's medical team; his possible absence might give Adam Webster a starting chance.

While Joao Pedro might return to the Premier League battle, Winter acquisition Diego Gomez aims for his first start after impressing during his substitute debut last weekend.

Regarding the guests, they remain without the injured quintet of Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Romeo Lavia (muscle), Omari Kellyman (hamstring), and Marc Guiu (groin).

After it was discovered in December that Winger Mykhaylo Mudryk had tested positive for the banned drug meldonium, he is serving a temporary doping suspension.

After being left off Saturday's squad to manage his workload, Reece James is scheduled to return to the side; Nicolas Jackson will not be returning after the announcement that he is slated to miss six weeks of activity with a hamstring injury.

Having dropped down to the bench at the weekend, Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, and Noni Madueke are all advocating recalls.

Our Predictions

Full-time draw @ 3.70 on Sky247.ng

After the Seagulls knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup, she will be eager to respond, but while we believe she will avoid losing, we believe she might have to accept a point against a Brighton side that has drawn six of their 11 Premier League home games this season.

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