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

[Dick Head]

Chelsea v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Tuesday 20th April 2021
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Edward Smart
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
VAR: Kevin Friend
Additional VAR: Darren Cann
​

TEAM NEWS

Andreas Christensen is likely to return for Chelsea following a three-match absence because of a muscle injury.

Thiago Silva could be rested, with head coach Thomas Tuchel concerned about the Brazilian's recent workload, while Mateo Kovacic remains out.

Brighton defenders Adam Webster and Dan Burn are in contention to start, having both returned to the matchday squad for last week's draw against Everton.

Aaron Connolly is fit after a foot injury and Percy Tau might be involved.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• 
  [*=left]Chelsea are unbeaten in 14 games against Brighton since losing the first meeting in January 1933 (W12, D2).
  [*=left]The Blues have won all six competitive home fixtures against Albion, scoring 14 goals without reply.

Chelsea

• 
  [*=left]Chelsea could lose consecutive league games at Stamford Bridge for only the third time since Roman Abramovich became owner in 2004. It previously happened in November 2011 and December 2019.
  [*=left]They have dropped points in eight of their 15 home league matches, more than in any of the previous 23 seasons bar 2015-16.
  [*=left]The Blues have kept 14 clean sheets in 19 competitive matches since Thomas Tuchel became head coach.
  [*=left]Christian Pulisic has scored three goals in his past two league appearances, as many as in his previous 26. He's looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for just the second time.

Albion

• 
  [*=left]Brighton have only won twice in nine league matches, including one of their last five at home.
  [*=left]A sixth top-flight away victory of the season would represent a club record for the Seagulls.
  [*=left]They have kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, seven of them since the turn of the year. It's their best top-flight record since recording 14 clean sheets in 1981-82.
  [*=left]Since winning promotion in 2017, Brighton have been involved in an unrivalled 16 goalless draws in the Premier League.
  [*=left]Albion have dropped 20 points from a winning position this campaign, a joint-league high alongside Spurs.

Graham Potter's Chelsea Press Conference

 

[Yes Chef]

I hate Chelsea

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

Is this a Prem fixture or have we been promoted to the European Super League?

 

[Perfidious Albion]

With all the furore over the E S L this fixture has been largely overlooked, except by us. Can we win it ? Yes, we can , but will we ?
If we get the run of the ball and we put in the performance we are capable of. we can do. Let’s hope Chelsea are distracted by the Cup and all this about Europe. We have had longer to prepare.

Pity it is yet another evening fixture .......

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Swansman]

Since Tuchel took over they've really only had a handful of bad games but generally looked really strong. Not expecting anything here.

 

[Hamilton]

The Brighton Stripes take on the Chelsea Wizards!

 

[Peter Grummit]

Our final chance to beat Chelsea?

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[Peter Grummit]

Worth watching for Bissouma v Mount

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[Lethargic]

Chelsea scum.

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[Hampster Gull]

Tarnished

 

[Eddiespearritt]

Hopefully the match is postponed because Chelsea have been suspended from the Premier League after today's meeting of the other 14.

If I did something in an environment which dramatically and negatively affected my colleagues, without discussing it with them first in some kind of detail, I'd expect to be suspended as a minimum with instant effect.

I also wait to see if UEFA who have been so damaged by this proposal, are weak enough to go ahead with a Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Real Madrid next week. They cannot whine and moan, and then simply turn a blind eye.

 

[lawros left foot]

Scab club

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Seems a bit irrelevant now. Any game against any of the 6 leaves a bitter taste. Go up there, take the three points then have a good clean to remove the stench.

 

[Taybha]

Interesting to see if Potter rotates for this ,with Sheff Utd up next could see Mac Connolly and Webster coming in for Llanna Wellbeck and Moder ,

Great if it works and we win v Utd , not so good if we come away with nowt .

4 points and we're safe , it's incredible thinking back on missed chances how on earth we find ourselves in this position but here we are .

Come on Brighton, it's about time we took some away points away from these Packers .

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

On the plus side Chelsea no longer have anything to play for. Finishing top 4 is now irrelevant.

 

[Eric Youngs Contact Lens]

minor point given the ESL context, but hope we wear the black 3rd kit tonight.. hasn't had an outing all season and we haven't won in the yellow kit .. one last outing for the black kit please!

 

[The Fifth Column]

On the plus side Chelsea no longer have anything to play for. Finishing top 4 is now irrelevant.

Totally agree. Its a dead rubber for South Kensington Rebels FC as they have already self-qualified for their own tournament by declaring themselves more important and bigger than everyone else. They won't be playing in the Champions League next season so effectively their PL season is over with nothing to play for. Unless of course they are docked 30 points in which case they are on 24 and need the 3 points desperately to avoid relegation making this fixture a real 6 pointer!!

 

[A1X]

Absolutely psyched at watching a huge percentage of English football fans joining us in our frustration and annoyance at our players performing like a bunch of friggin' amateurs when it comes to putting the ball into that big white rectangle at the other end of the pitch

 

[Hotchilidog]

Not going to lie I am fairly distracted today by this fixture. I cannot wait for us tear into them tonight.