Brighton vs Chelsea predictions: Blues can gain revenge for cup defeat
&w=707&quality=100)
- Brighton knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup last week with a 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium
- The Blues are looking to solidify their position in the top four of the Premier League
- Recommended bet: Chelsea to win
Brighton were celebrating in the FA Cup last weekend when they beat Chelsea to book a place in the fifth round, but their home league form has not been great and the Blues appear to have a good chance of turning the tables on the Seagulls.
Enzo Maresca’s side have had a bit of a wobble on the road lately, but they could still have enough to claim their seventh league away win of the campaign.
Team news
Pervis Estupinan, Mats Weiffer and Lewis Dunk are all doubtful for the Seagulls, while Solly March, Ferdi Kadioglu, Igor Julio, Jason Steele and James Milner are all ruled out.
Chelsea are hopeful that striker Nicolas Jackson will have shaken off a thigh injury, but they are set to be without Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile.
&w=707&quality=100)
The stats
There have been at least four goals in 10 of Brighton’s 24 Premier League matches this season.
Six of Brighton’s last 12 league games have been draws.
Chelsea have lost one of 10 away league matches against teams outside the top six.
Both teams have scored in seven of Chelsea’s last nine league away matches.
Brighton have not won any of their last five Premier League games at the Amex Stadium.
Prediction
There was joy among the home supporters at the Amex Stadium last weekend when Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton came from behind to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup, but there seems a decent chance that the Londoners can gain revenge in the Premier League on Friday night.
The Blues are still well-placed to mount a challenge for a top-four spot this season and, despite the fact they have won none of their last four league away games, they may have a better experience on the south coast this time.
There looks a decent chance that striker Nicolas Jackson will be available to boost the visitors’ attacking output and while they gained a win last week, the Seagulls have been poor on their own patch.
A 1-1 draw against Arsenal can be seen as a decent result, but that is not the case with some of their other recent Amex performances, as they have drawn with both bottom-of-the-table Southampton and poor travellers Brentford, while suffered defeats to arch-rivals Crystal Palace and Everton.
No top-flight team has posted more draws than Brighton’s 10, but with the smell of revenge in their nostrils, Chelsea can boost their Champions League qualification push with a seventh league away win of the campaign.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
