[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Albion v Chelsea

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: The American Express Stadium
Date: Friday 14th January 2025
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Lee betts, Mark Scholes
Fourth Official: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Michael Oliver
Additional VAR: Ian Hussin
​

TEAM NEWS

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is a major doubt to face Chelsea because of the rib injury he suffered against them in the FA Cup last Saturday.

Mats Wieffer could be involved after a nine-game absence but Solly March is unlikely to be risked despite his return to training.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been ruled out until April with a hamstring problem, while Marc Guiu is sidelined due to a similar issue.

Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Thursday that Filip Jorgensen has replaced Robert Sanchez as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Chelsea are on a run of three successive top-flight wins against Brighton, whose only victory in nine league meetings at home was by 4-1 in October 2022 (D2, L6).
• However, Albion beat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup at the Amex Stadium last weekend.
• Brighton have scored in each of their past seven Premier League games against Chelsea but have only kept one clean sheet in their 15 encounters in the division.

Albion

• Brighton's 7-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest in their most recent league fixture was their heaviest since August 1958.
• The Seagulls could lose three Premier League matches in a row for the first time since a run of six in February and March 2022.
• They have won just two of their past 12 league games (D6, L4).
• Fabian Hürzeler's side have gone five home league matches without a win since beating Manchester City in November, drawing three times and losing twice.

Chelsea

• Chelsea are currently on the longest winless streak away from home in the Premier League, going four games without victory since beating Spurs 4-3 in early December (D2, L2).
• The Blues have averaged 0.5 goals per match during that run, in contrast to an average of 2.9 goals across their first eight away league fixtures of the season.
• Enzo Maresca's side have only accrued nine points from their eight most recent league games, home and away.
• Three defeats in the past seven league matches is as many as they had in their previous 32 top-flight fixtures.
• Chelsea have gained 13 points from losing positions this season, coming from behind to avoid defeat in seven games.
• The Blues are the only Premier League side not to have fielded a player in his 30s this season.
• Cole Palmer scored all four Chelsea goals in September's reverse fixture against Brighton.

Fabian Hürzeler's Chelsea Press Conference

 

[jcdenton08]

Through to the next round here lads, no excuses.

 

[OzMike]

I will be asleep for this one and expect to wake to find a surprise 3 more points on the table.

 

[Taybha]

 

[Greg Bobkin]

This next game could be season-defining. These are a good side.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I've got a feeling about this one

 

[HeaviestTed]

There are a lot of tickets still available, they probably shouldn’t have made it an a grade match.

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

We are 2-1 up from the first leg. Avoid defeat tonight and we are in the Rumberlows Cup final for the first time.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

These shouldn’t be trusted around salads

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Will this make its way to the Amex tonight?

 

[Dick Swiveller]

These are a bad set of officials

 

[southstandandy]

Still nearly 4000 tickets to shift for this one - surely better than taking the wife out tonight!

 

[Dick Head]

So excited

were loose

 

[The Optimist]

Still nearly 4000 tickets to shift for this one - surely better than taking the wife out tonight!

It does make the Chelsea chant of ‘you’re only here to see the Chelsea’ funny - two of our lowest attendances* this season will be for them in the FA Cup and league.

*I know tonight’s attendance will be given as a full house as the tickets are sold, but I mean actual bums on seats.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Still nearly 4000 tickets to shift for this one - surely better than taking the wife out tonight!

Plenty still to join in with the

“No one loves us, no one loves us, no one loves us, we don’t care”

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Beat them twice in a week ? That’s a tall order , but wouldn’t it be great !
if the ball runs for us , our lads have their shooting boots on - We could do it.
That’s not a prediction though. As long as we see a good performance tonight that’s the main thing.

 

[Bob!]

8th or 10th tonight

 

[oneillco]

Beat them twice in a week ? That’s a tall order , but wouldn’t it be great !
if the ball runs for us , our lads have their shooting boots on - We could do it.
That’s not a prediction though. As long as we see a good performance tonight that’s the main thing.

Don't care about the performance, I just want a win to make that horrible club and their horrible entitled fans suffer...

 

[Coldeanseagull]

It does make the Chelsea chant of ‘you’re only here to see the Chelsea’ funny - two of our lowest attendances* this season will be for them in the FA Cup and league.

*I know tonight’s attendance will be given as a full house as the tickets are sold, but I mean actual bums on seats.

Something, something arseholes will be standing in the away section, not sitting