Date: Saturday 28th Sept 2019
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Chelsea spirits were soaring midweek with a 7-1 win in the EFL Cup. Yes, it was against Grimsby but that’s the sort of game our players would have struggled to muster up the enthusiasm for last season. Of course games won’t come as easy as that in the Premier League, we won’t get to play Grimsby for a start but it was good to get the first home win under Lampard, and even better the first home win came from our talented young players.
In the Premier League, we’re still waiting for the first home win and with just 8 points from the opening 6 games, we really have to push for that win against Brighton today.
Brighton arrive at Stamford Bridge without a win in five league matches and with a pretty poor record away against the established top-six sides but they’ll still want to bring the game to us. Whilst that will present us chances, we’ll still need our defence to provide less opportunities for the opposition than they have so far this season. We’ve been a little unfortunate with some results so far and were unlucky to come away with nothing in the end against Liverpool last weekend but sometimes you have to make your own luck and today has to be one of those times.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says “The fact we haven’t won at home [in the league] is something we want to correct. We need a similar performance to Liverpool. If we get that level then I expect we can do okay. We have had a run of home games, but we have to respect Brighton.”
Brighton head coach Graham Potter, meanwhile, says “We are creating chances and are about where I expect us to be after six [Premier League] matches. But you get what you get and there is no point in feeling sorry for yourself. I am confident with the quality we have that it will turn around.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Emerson (hamstring) are all out. Olivier Giroud (illness) and Andreas Christensen (knee) are available again.
For Brighton, Shane Duffy (calf) and Bernardo are out. Jose Izquierdo (knee) and Ezequiel Schelotto (knee) also remain sidelined. Solly March (thigh) and Leandro Trossard (groin) are unlikely to play although Glenn Murray (ankle) and Alireza Jahanbakhsh could both return.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Kante; Jorginho; Kovacic; Willian, Mount; Abraham.
BRIGHTON (Possible line-up): Ryan; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Montoya, Propper, Stephens, Mooy, Alzate; Gross; Maupay
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 3-0 Brighton (3rd April 2019)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: LDWDWL
BRIGHTON: WDLLDD
OTHER STUFF
- Brighton have lost all eight previous league meetings with Chelsea
- Chelsea have won all five competitive home fixtures against Brighton
- Brighton have failed to score in both of their previous Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge
- The last time Chelsea failed to win any of their opening four league matches at Stamford Bridge was in 1986-87.
- Chelsea have conceded 13 league goals, the third-highest tally in the division.
- The last time Chelsea failed to keep a single clean sheet in their opening seven top-flight games was in 1990-91.
- Brighton are winless in five league matches (D3, L2).
- Brighton have won only one of their last 15 league games.
- Brighton have taken just one point from 13 Premier League away games at established top-six opposition (D1, L12).
- Brighton have failed to score in 22 of their 41 away league games since their promotion in 2017.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Brighton
Sky Sports: Chelsea 3-1 Brighton
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Brighton
Blue is the colour
