Chelsea are aiming to make it four wins in a row against Brighton & Hove Albion across all competitions, having completed a league double as well as a Carabao Cup victory last term. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton detail all you need to know ahead of kick-off...
This 3pm Saturday kick-off pits the Blues, second-highest goalscorers in the Premier League, against the Seagulls, who share the third-best defensive record.
Barrow’s Carabao Cup visit on Tuesday ended 5-0 – our eighth-biggest win in the competition – with another shutout for the Londoners setting up a round four rendezvous with the winner of Wimbledon and Newcastle United (they meet in a rearranged tie on Tuesday 1 October).
Brighton are one of just four teams in the Premier League yet to lose, though they have drawn their last three, and they have never emerged unbeaten from the opening six top-flight fixtures.
Enzo Maresca’s side have now opened the scoring in seven of our eight matches across all competitions, Christopher Nkunku striking first in four of them and Nicolas Jackson in the other three.
Overall in the league, only Manchester City (13) have found the net more times than Chelsea (11), and after back-to-back league wins with a clean sheet on the road it would be a great time to start a similar run at home.
Tuesday’s slick, professional beating of Barrow after 11 team changes demonstrated that Maresca’s selections are complicated merely by the fine form of so many in his squad.
The brave League Two leaders had no answer to Chelsea’s physicality, ingenuity and organisation, despite a side unrecognisable from the one which dominated West Ham United three days earlier, except in playing style.
So many players enjoyed confidence-building minutes, but the Italian is expected to revert to something like the rested starting XI that earned successive away wins to nil in the top flight.
Malo Gusto, back from injury on Tuesday, may retain his place at right-back, and Romeo Lavia could return, leaving Reece James the only key absentee.
The past few league battles have been won on the training pitch of Cobham, and tactical nous plus talent eager to learn is easy on the eye. Cole Palmer and Jackson’s well-timed pressing has been crucial and our swift transitional play proved deadly.
One of the most ‘Thrilling’ sights in football is Jackson in full flight, and his cold-blooded finishes and assist brought his goal involvement to 13 from as many Premier League appearances (nine goals, three assists).
Another big factor in last weekend’s success were direct passes through the Irons’ middle from the back. Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill will look to do the same against Brighton's aggressively high defensive line if selected.
It’s still so early in the new campaign but the Londoners are not only scoring more per game (2.20, an improvement on 2.03 last season) but also conceding fewer (1.00 now as opposed to 1.64 in 2023/24).
Results in these fixtures have come in batches over the years, with three straight wins against the Sussex club the latest sequence.
Prior to that the Seagulls stole our chips back-to-back, but only after three draws in succession. Those stalemates completed 17 matches unbeaten for the Blues against Brighton, stretching back to an FA Cup tie in 1967.
Premier League encounters began at the Bridge on Boxing Day 2017, when second-half goals from Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso meant no club from Europe’s top five leagues at that time could boast more goals by Spanish players.
Former Spurs man Chris Hughton was in charge of the Seagulls when Chelsea registered our biggest league score against them, 3-0 in April 2019. This time Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek secured the points for Maurizio Sarri’s side.
Last December’s encounter was a closer affair, especially with Conor Gallagher dismissed for a second yellow just before the break (James was also sent off in the 88th minute at the Amex). Chelsea's 10 men led 2-0 then and 3-1 later, with a goal for Colwill and two for Enzo Fernandez, before seeing the game out for 3-2, our first league win against Albion since that 3-0.
Jackson’s second goal at West Ham put the finishing touch to 90 seconds of uninterrupted Chelsea build-up. involving 26 passes.
Robert Sanchez has dealt with nine of the 55 crosses (16.4 per cent) into his box this season, the highest percentage in the top flight.
Both Chelsea and Brighton like to dominate the ball, with possession percentages of 56.6 for the hosts (sixth-highest in the top flight) and 62 for the visitors (third).
Brighton have been flagged for offside just three times this season, the lowest number in the top flight, alongside Liverpool.
Since his Chelsea debut last season, Palmer has recorded 39 goals or assists, more than any other Premier League player except Erling Haaland (also 39).
Maresca’s 21 Premier League substitutes have scored or assisted four goals so far this season. Only Unai Emery’s 30 replacements at Aston Villa have had a bigger impact (seven goal contributions).
Chelsea now sits 5th in the table, having kept a clean sheet in the last two games and scoring more goals than any other side except Manchester City as the Premier League heads into Matchday 6.
Chelsea dispatched League Two side Barrow in midweek, winning 5-0, but now Enzo Maresca's men must turn their attention to a much more difficult opponent: Brighton. Brighton has played well under new manager Fabian Hurzeler and could do some damage to the Blues if the west London side is not alert.
Chelsea has not been great defensively so far, giving up too many shots and shots on target in the seven games played.
Enzo Maresca's men have conceded 34 shots and 14 shots on target in the last two games alone. This suggests that the Blues aren't doing enough to prevent the opposition from taking shots.
Robert Sanchez has been superb for Chelsea, single-handedly securing the clean sheet against Bournemouth after a penalty save. He also saved all 7 shots he faced against West Ham, although none were considered big chances.
Two clean sheets out of five games this season seems acceptable, but Chelsea ranks 7th for expected goals against (5.8), 10th for shots allowed (65), and 12th for shots on target allowed. This is notable given that the Blues have faced Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and West Ham United. Of these teams, only Man City can be said to have a strong attack, which means Chelsea should rank higher in the aforementioned metrics.
Yes, Bournemouth ranks third in the league for shots taken, but they are 13th for goals scored, despite being 5th for shots on target. The Cherries also earned a penalty against Chelsea, which Evanilson failed to convert.
Brighton is a much better attacking side than any the Blues have faced so far, apart from Man City. In fact, Hurzeler's men rank 5th for shots, 6th for goals, and 3rd for average possession this season (62%). This means that Chelsea's defense will be tested more in this game.
Everyone knows that Chelsea ranks second in the league for goals scored, but the attack has been lacking in some areas. Of the top six scoring teams in the league so far, the Blues have taken the fewest shots (59). The only other team close to Maresca's men in that regard is Unai Emery's Aston Villa, which has taken 62 shots and scored eight goals.
Chelsea ranks 13th in the league for shots taken and 7th for shots on target, yet has scored 11 goals from 59 shots. That is equivalent to a 19% shot conversion rate. Compared to Chelsea, the other top six scoring sides have converted at 16% (Arsenal), 16% (Aston Villa), 13% (Manchester City), 12% (Liverpool), 10% (Brighton), and 9% (Tottenham Hotspur).
At the team level, a high shot volume with a 14-15% shot conversion is much more sustainable than a relatively low shot volume with a 19% conversion rate. In fact, over the past five seasons, no team has ever converted more than 14% of its shots. Therefore, Chelsea either needs to drastically increase its shot volume per game or become the first team to convert over 16% of its shots over a league season.
Brighton's defense is also vulnerable; despite ranking 3rd for shots allowed and 2nd for shots on target allowed, the Seagulls rank 8th for expected goals against (5.9).
Mitoma has been an important part of Brighton's attack, and this season, he has given many fullbacks a difficult time. Malo Gusto has returned from injury and should start against Brighton. This matchup will be key to Chelsea's ability to contain Hurzeler's men. Gusto will need to be on top of his game to avoid the Japan international getting the better of him.
Mitoma boasts an impressive 2.4 dribbles completed per game, with a 50% success rate. Gusto currently wins ground duels at a rate of 48%, the same as Mitoma. Both players will be determined to gain the upper hand.
Chelsea has been alright this season, but there are areas where the club should be performing much better than it has, and fans should watch out for improvements in the coming games. After escaping with a win against Bournemouth and coming up against a West Ham that had the off-the-ball structure of a League One side, Brighton would be a much better test for Maresca’s men to see where they stand.
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Enzo Maresca hints that Ben Chilwell could still have a role at Chelsea this season.
Sept 27 (Reuters) - Chelsea will be boosted by the return of midfielder Romeo Lavia as they aim for their first Premier League home win of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Lavia, who last played in Chelsea's only league defeat in five games, a 2-0 home loss to Manchester City, was sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury in training.
The 20-year-old, who joined from Southampton in August 2023, managed only one substitute appearance last season due to multiple injury setbacks.
"Romeo Lavia is available for tomorrow, the only one (who will be missing) is Reece (James) he is still out and there is no real update on him at the moment," Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca told reporters on Friday.
"We will see if (Lavia can play the full 90 minutes). We have one more session now and then we will decide but the most important thing is that finally he is back."
Maresca is spoiled for choice in attack after Nicolas Jackson scored a brace against West Ham United last weekend and Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick in their 5-0 thrashing of fourth-tier side Barrow on Tuesday in the League Cup third round.
The Italian coach will have to choose between the two strikers to lead the line against Brighton but has other decisions to make after several standout performances this week.
"Yeah it's one of them but I think Pedro (Neto) also did very well. Mykhailo (Mudryk) did very well the other day," he added.
"All of them to be honest. It's important that when there is chance, even if it's five minutes, 10 minutes or half an hour or from the start, they give everything, so it's important.
"I've told them since day one that we cannot play with seven or eight attacking players otherwise there is no defensive balance."
After Brighton, Chelsea host Belgian side Gent in the Europa Conference League on Oct. 3 and welcome Nottingham Forest in the league three days later. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Sport | Football
Enzo Maresca has an almost fully-fit squad to choose from as Chelsea host Brighton in the Premier League this weekend, with Reece James the only confirmed absentee.
The Blues have midfielder Romeo Lavia fit after a hamstring problem, while Malo Gusto is also available having come through 45 minutes unscathed against Barrow in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
The Frenchman had missed the previous two league matches and his return is welcome as Maresca confirmed the club still do not know when James will be fit to feature for the first time this season.
Maresca made 11 changes to his side for the 5-0 victory over Barrow and now has several difficult decisions to make as the Blues target the first home league victory of his tenure.
The likelihood is that, despite that comprehensive show against the League Two leaders, Maresca will return to the bulk of the team that beat West Ham 3-0 last Saturday.
Perhaps the Chelsea boss’s biggest headache comes up-front, after Christopher Nkunku netted a hat-trick in midweek, following on from Jackson’s brace against the Hammers.
Injured: James
Date and time: 3pm BST on Saturday, September 28, 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Chelsea: Enzo Maresca hints at Ben Chilwell U-turn after suggesting defender should leave
Chelsea vs Brighton: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds
Graham Potter reflects on Chelsea 'humiliation' as he admits struggle after £323m January spend
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Chelsea vs Brighton Live Football Streaming For Premier League 2024-25 Match: Chelsea will be looking to move up from the fifth place in the Premier League as they take on Brighton next. The Blues have lost just one match in the English top flight so far. They have won their last three matches across all competitions with a recent 3-0 victory against West Ham in the Premier League. The Londoners will hope to extend their winning run against Brighton this weekend.
Chelsea and Brighton will square off at Stamford Bridge on September 28. Brighton are currently undefeated in the Premier League with two wins and three draws in five matches. They drew their previous league fixture 2-2 against Nottingham Forest. Brighton will now be looking to pull off a surprise win against Chelsea on Saturday.
What date Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 will be played?
CHE vs BHA will be played on September 28, Saturday.
Where will the Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 be played?
CHE vs BHA will be played at Stamford Bridge.
What time will the Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 begin?
CHE vs BHA will start at 7:30 pm IST.
Which TV channels will broadcast Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 match?
CHE vs BHA will be televised on the Star Sports Network in India.
Here are the broadcasting details for Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 match:
Star Sports 1
Star Sports 2
Star Sports 1 HD
Star Sports 2 HD
How do I watch Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 match live streaming?
CHE vs BHA will be streamed live on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India.
What are the Predicted Line-ups for Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League 2024-25 game?
Chelsea Probable XI: Robert Sanchez; Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella; Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho; Nicolas Jackson
Brighton Probable XI: Bar Verbruggen, Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan, Jack Hinshelwood, Carlos Quomah Baleba, Simon Adingra, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck
About the Author
Location: London, United Kingdom (UK) Over the summer, many questioned both Brighton and Chelsea, with the Seagulls losing the ever-dependable Pascal Groß and appointing the Premier League’s youngest-ever manager, while the Blues continued their haphazard spending under the new leadership of Enzo Maresca.
However, after five games, both teams have emphatically proven doubters wrong, delivering impressive performances that leave them just a point apart towards the top end of the table.
Despite being winless in their last three league matches, including a fiery 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest in their most recent outing, Brighton are undefeated thus far under Fabian Hürzeler.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have secured back-to-back clean sheets on the road, and their plethora of attacking options have all proven themselves more than deserving of a place in the starting line-up.
Chelsea
Reece James remains unavailable as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury he sustained at the beginning of August.
However, Malo Gusto's welcome return in the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Barrow could see him start at right-back, easing the burden on Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana, who have been forced to deputise on the right in recent weeks.
Despite being substituted just before the hour mark in last week’s win over West Ham, Maresca has confirmed that Fofana is not carrying any injury, and the French centre-back is expected to start alongside Levi Colwill this weekend.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia is a doubt due to a hamstring issue, but regular starters Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are both available.
Meanwhile, Maresca has an embarrassment of riches up front, with Christopher Nkunku, having scored six goals in his last eight appearances, expected to miss out to Nicolas Jackson, who has also started the season in stellar form.
Brighton
Regarding the injury, Hürzeler said: "I'm not sure how long he will be out.
"I think that he is a good healer and I'm convinced that he will be back soon. But we can't take any risk."
The Brazilian joins summer signing Matt O’Riley (ankle) on the sidelines along with Solly March (knee), who is nearing a return after close to a year out, and James Milner (thigh).
In Pedro's absence, club-record signing Georginio Rutter is set to continue in the advanced role behind Danny Welbeck.
After missing last weekend through illness, Yasin Ayari is available, while Brajan Gruda could return to the matchday squad after an unspecified injury to make his Brighton debut.
The two big questions regarding selection are whether Mats Wieffer will replace Jack Hinshelwood or Carlos Baleba in midfield and who, out of Yankuba Minteh and Simon Adingra, starts on the right flank.
Chelsea
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Brighton
Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, van Hecke, Estupiñán; Hinshelwood, Wieffer; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Chelsea - Nicholas Jackson
Despite scoring 17 goals in his debut season for Chelsea, many questioned Jackson’s ability to lead the line going forward, and it appeared Maresca agreed, with rumours circulating during the summer that the former Leicester City coach was in the market for a striker.
However, the Senegalese frontman has proven to his new coach that he is more than capable of spearheading the attack, having scored four goals and assisted a further two in the opening five games.
Jackson’s exceptional goalscoring ability was on full display last weekend against the Hammers, with the 23-year-old surging into space on the wing and calmly slotting the ball through Alphonse Areola’s legs before making a brilliant run behind Julen Lopetegui’s back three to finish in style once again.
With Hürzeler generally opting to put players forward and play a high line when his team is in possession, there will be ample opportunity for Jackson to exploit space in behind again and create chaos for the Brighton defence.
Brighton - Jack Hinshelwood
Before the Tricky Trees visited The Amex last weekend, Hinshelwood had started every game this season at full-back.
However, with an abundance of injuries in midfield, Hürzeler was forced to deploy the club’s most promising youth academy product in midfield alongside Baleba.
The lifelong Brighton fan did not disappoint in this more advanced role, rising highest in the box to send a powerful header beyond the reach of Matz Sels’ outstretched arm.
While the attacking side of his game made headlines against Forest, Hinshelwood’s natural defensive instincts make him crucial to the Seagulls’ attempt to continue their unbeaten start to the season at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer will undoubtedly be relentless in his pursuit to exploit Brighton’s high defensive line by unleashing Jackson and Noni Madueke with precise through balls, and Hinshelwood must seamlessly translate his defensive abilities into a midfield role if he is to halt the Chelsea star and rescue his defenders from a torrid afternoon.
Where is the game being played?
Chelsea and Brighton will clash at Stamford Bridge, the Blues’ home ground in West London.
What time is kick-off?
The game will commence at 15:00 BST on Saturday 28 September, at the same time as four other Premier League fixtures.
How can I watch?
Unfortunately, for supporters of both teams and neutrals eager to witness a thrilling match, the only way to watch the game live is by having a ticket to Stamford Bridge.
However, highlights will be available shortly after the final whistle on Sky Sports' YouTube channel, and on Match of the Day on BBC One at 22:30.
