Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea | Premier League | Pre Match

Six days after they locked horns in the FA Cup, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will recommence battle when they meet in Friday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium. This match will be crucial for both teams, not only as a matter of pride following their recent encounter but also in the larger context of their respective league campaigns.

The visitors will travel back down to the South Coast with revenge at the forefront of their minds after falling to a narrow defeat in Saturday's cup clash. Chelsea had high hopes of progressing further in the FA Cup, a competition they have a rich history in, but they were unable to overcome a resilient Brighton side that capitalized on their opportunities. The defeat stung particularly hard for Chelsea as they felt they had done enough to at least take the tie to extra time, yet Brighton’s defensive discipline and opportunism in attack proved decisive.

Brighton received a much-needed confidence boost from their recent meeting with Chelsea after they went into the fourth-round tie off the back of consecutive Premier League defeats, including a demoralizing 7-0 loss against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. That shocking result left the Seagulls reeling and in urgent need of a response. The victory over Chelsea provided just that—a statement performance that showed their resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity. It also demonstrated that they still have the quality to compete against the Premier League’s elite, even if their form has been inconsistent.

Fabian Hurzeler would have been concerned that his team were in for another difficult outing when a Bart Verbruggen error handed Chelsea a fifth-minute lead at the Amex Stadium. Goalkeeping errors can be psychologically damaging, especially when they happen early in matches, and for a moment, it seemed as though Brighton might struggle to recover. However, fortune smiled on them as Georginio Rutter quickly leveled the scoreline, restoring parity and calming nerves both on the pitch and in the stands. That goal provided the momentum Brighton needed to take control of the contest, and when Kaoru Mitoma scored a second-half winner, it ended a four-game losing run in competitive meetings with Chelsea, giving the Seagulls a significant mental edge heading into their Premier League rematch.

Brighton can now look forward to making their third consecutive fifth-round appearance, with the Seagulls set to face Newcastle United at St James' Park later this month for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. However, before they can shift their focus to that crucial cup tie, they must first navigate their upcoming Premier League fixtures, including the rematch with Chelsea as well as important games against Bournemouth and Southampton. These matches will be critical in determining whether Brighton can achieve their season objective of securing European qualification for the second time in three seasons.

The 10th-placed side have recorded just two victories across their previous 12 top-flight matches (D6, L4) – a significant contrast to the opening few months of the season, where they won six, drew four, and lost just two of their first 12 Premier League games. The sharp downturn in form has raised concerns about whether Brighton have the squad depth to sustain a challenge across multiple competitions. Injuries and fatigue have played their part, but the reality is that Brighton must rediscover their early-season form if they are to keep their European ambitions alive.

While they may have beaten Chelsea at the Amex Stadium in the cup, they will head into Friday's fixture without a win in five consecutive home league matches since they beat Manchester City 2-1 in November. The Amex has traditionally been a fortress for Brighton, but their recent struggles on home soil suggest vulnerabilities that Chelsea will look to exploit. The Seagulls will need to summon the same intensity and tactical discipline that saw them defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup if they are to break their winless streak in the league at home.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will shift their focus entirely to the Premier League and Conference League for the remainder of the season after their FA Cup campaign came to a disappointing end in Saturday’s trip to the Amex Stadium. The loss marked another frustrating chapter in an inconsistent season for the Blues, who had hoped the FA Cup would provide an opportunity to claim silverware. With that chance now gone, Chelsea must redouble their efforts in the league and Europe if they are to salvage their campaign.

Realistically, Enzo Maresca will have to go all the way in the Conference League if he is to win a trophy in his first season in the Stamford Bridge dugout. European success would provide a major boost to his tenure and demonstrate tangible progress, but it will not be an easy task given the competitive nature of the tournament. First and foremost, Chelsea will continue their Champions League qualification bid in Friday’s rematch against Brighton, with the visitors sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table and just two points clear of Manchester City and Newcastle United in fifth and sixth position respectively.

If they are to hold on to a top-four spot, the Blues will have to improve on their travels, having failed to win any of their last four Premier League away matches since they prevailed in a seven-goal thriller against Tottenham Hotspur on December 8. Their away form has been a persistent issue, and Maresca will be eager to find a solution to ensure his side does not continue to drop crucial points on the road. They will be aware that it will be tricky to end that winless run in Friday’s fixture, having failed to win three of their previous away meetings with Brighton, although they did pick up a 2-1 win in their most recent Premier League meeting at the Amex Stadium in May 2024.

The visitors do have the chance to complete a league double over Brighton for the second season in a row after Cole Palmer produced a match-winning display in the reverse fixture, netting all four of Chelsea’s goals in a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge in September. Palmer’s form has been a bright spot in Chelsea’s season, and his ability to influence matches could once again prove decisive against Brighton.

The hosts are unable to call upon the services of Jason Steele (shoulder), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio (hamstring), James Milner (hamstring), and Solly March (muscle), although the latter is believed to be closing in on a return to action. Pervis Estupinan (muscle) and Mats Wieffer (knee) were not ready to feature in Saturday’s cup tie, and it remains to be seen whether they can prove their fitness in time for Friday’s rematch.

Lewis Dunk will have to be assessed by Brighton’s medical staff after being forced off at half-time in the fourth-round tie with a rib injury, and his potential absence could present Adam Webster with a starting opportunity. Winter addition Diego Gomez is pushing for his first start after impressing during his substitute appearance last weekend, while Joao Pedro could come back into the lineup for the Premier League clash.

As for the visitors, they remain without the injured quartet of Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Romeo Lavia (muscle), Omari Kellyman (hamstring), and Marc Guiu (groin). Winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is serving a provisional doping ban after it was revealed in December that he had tested positive for the prohibited substance meldonium.

Reece James is set to return to the side after he was left out of Saturday’s squad with the aim of managing his workload, but Nicolas Jackson will not return to the side following the news that he is set to miss six weeks of action with a hamstring injury. Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, and Noni Madueke are all pushing for recalls after dropping down to the bench at the weekend.

With both teams eager for a positive result, Friday’s encounter promises to be an enthralling battle between two sides with much at stake. Chelsea will be determined to avenge their FA Cup exit, while Brighton will be keen to prove that their victory was no fluke. Whatever the outcome, fans can expect a high-energy, fiercely contested clash at the Amex Stadium.