Chelsea and Brighton squared off last weekend in the 4th round of the FA-Cup. Brighton won the game at The Amex Stadium and it was an important win too. Brighton and Chelsea will go at it again tonight at The Amex Stadium. Will Chelsea be able to avenge Brighton?
Brighton and their German manager Fabian Hurzeler were under pressure before the game last week. The Seagulls had just been heavily trashed by Nottingham Forest (0-7). They really needed a positive result against Chelsea and they got it. Brighton went down early due to an own goal but Mitoma and Rutter scored the goals that turned things around for the Seagulls. Brighton currently sit at the 10th spot in the Premier League standings. Brighton have lost two straight in the Premiership.
This season is all about qualifying for the Champions League as far as Chelsea goes. The East Londoners are currently at the fourth spot in the Premier League standings and have the last CL spot, right now. Chelae have won two out of their last three PL games. Newcastle and Manchester City right behind them in the table. The manager Enzo Maresca will be judged by the ownership whether he takes the club to the CL or not. Brighton and Chelsea squared at Stamford Bridge in September. That was their first PL fixture between them of the season. Chelsea won 4-2.
Hurzeler and Brighton have a lot of injuries to deal with currently. Solly March, Igor Julio, Ferdi Kadioglu, Jason Steele and James Millner are all out. Mats Wieffer and Pervis Estupinan is questionable. Lewis Dunk will be a game time decision. The Blues have a couple of players out as well. Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman and Benoit Badashile are all out. Mudryk is out due to an doping ban.
Brighton: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Webster, Lamptey; Baleba, Gomez; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro.
Chelsea: Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madeuke, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku.
