Chelsea won four successive meetings with Brighton before last Friday's FA Cup defeat. Both teams have scored during each of the last eight league and FA Cup encounters between the pair; the six most-recent of which have witnessed 25 goals, meaning a goal is scored every 21 minutes on average.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Preview
Six nights ago, the same two teams met at the same venue, but will this instantaneous rematch produce the same outcome?
In Saturday night's FA Cup tie, Chelsea appeared set to progress to round five in Sussex when they went in front inside five minutes. Cole Palmer's cross inadvertently shovelled into his own net by a scrambling Bart Verbruggen.
However, not long after, Joël Veltman's inch-perfect cross was headed home by Georginio Rutter, before Brighton won it shortly after half time; Kaoru Mitoma poking the ball beyond Robert Sánchez.
So, a mere 142 hours after the two sides vacated the Amex turf, the duo go again, but which way will this one go?
Chelsea's season is potentially in danger of unraveling; now out of both domestic cup competitions, securing Champions League qualification is the primary focus, while they're also overwhelming favourites to win the Conference League.
In the Premier League however, Enzo Maresca's men have enjoyed back-to-back home wins, beating Wolves and West Ham, but those are the only victories they've collected across their last eight, without a win in four on the road.
The come-from-behind 2-1 victory over West Ham at Stamford Bridge does mean the Blues kick off fourth. They are two points above Man City and Newcastle, who face one another on Saturday, so victory here could open up a healthy gap between them and the chasing pack.
Saturday's FA Cup victory was much-needed for Brighton & Hove Albion, considering they'd been smashed 7-0 by Nottingham Forest a week earlier, the club's heaviest league defeat for 67 years.
Overall, the Seagulls have won only two of their last 12 Premier League fixtures, winless in five at home, dating back to early November. They are seeking to avoid three successive league defeats for the first time since March 2022.
Fabian Hürzeler's team are still tenth in the table, a win here would see Brighton end the night eighth, thereby occupying the final potential European spot, which remains the ambition.
This time a week ago, the Albion had only beaten Chelsea twice in 92 years, but can they now defeat the Blues twice in just six days?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 25.
- Brighton & Hove Albion Wins: 4. Draws: 5. Chelsea Wins: 16.
Brighton & Hove Albion Team News
Fabian Hürzeler went strong for the weekend FA Cup tie, partially due to limited options; Jason Steele, Lewis Dunk, Igor, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Pervis Estupiñán, Mats Wieffer, James Milner and Solly March are all currently sidelined.
Star midfielder Carlos Baleba is a doubt, after picking up a muscle injury at the weekend. If the Cameroonian is unavailable, that would be a massive blow because he was excellent alongside Jack Hinshelwood. Either new signing Diego Gómez or fit-again Yasin Ayari would come in.
Meanwhile, club captain Dunk hobbled off shortly before halftime on Saturday, so Adam Webster will deputise this time.
Lastly, João Pedro was surprisingly only a substitute in the cup, introduced late on, but he may begin the night on the bench again, given the recent form of both Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.
Brighton & Hove Albion predicted lineup vs Chelsea: (4-4-1-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Webster, van Hecke, Lamptey; Hinshelwood, Ayari, Minteh, Mitoma, Georginio; João Pedro.
Brighton & Hove Albion Players to Watch vs Chelsea
Georginio Rutter headed home his seventh of the season on Saturday, having also been on target at Stamford Bridge during a 4-2 defeat in September, so can he complete the Chelsea treble?
Chelsea Team News
Wesley Fofana, Benoît Badiashile, Roméo Lavia and Marc Guiu are all likely to be out for Enzo Maresca's team, but Reece James is set to return, having been rested in the FA Cup.
Meanwhile, after being forced off against West Ham, Nicolas Jackson also did not travel to Sussex last weekend, but Chelsea fans will be hoping he is ready to go this time, after Christopher Nkunku's performance came in for widespread criticism.
Elsewhere, Enzo Fernández will displace Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at the base of midfield, while Jadon Sancho wasn't at his best either on Saturday night, so Noni Madueke could come back in.
Lastly, in goal, Filip Jörgensen got the nod against West Ham, just his third Premier League appearance, before Robert Sánchez returned to face his former club, but has the former now usurped the Spaniard as number one? Aarón Anselmino, who was an unused substitute in the FA Cup, and Mathis Amougou are both awaiting their debuts.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Brighton & Hove Albion: (4-2-3-1): Jörgensen; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernández, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Chelsea Player to Watch vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Cole Palmer scored four first half goals when Brighton visited West London in September, his cross-come-shot last weekend, officially recorded as an own goal, but will he be the scourge of Brighton again?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Prediction
Another high-scoring affair is likely and considering, in recent times, Brighton don't win at home and Chelsea can't win away, we're forecasting a Valentine's night draw: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Chelsea.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea FAQs - Premier League
How to watch Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Premier League game on TV channel?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League & Ultra HD.
- USA: fuboTV, Peacock & UNIVERSO
- Canada: Fubo Sports Network Canada
How to watch Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Premier League game on live streaming?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: SkyGo & NOW TV.
- USA: fuboTV, Peacock & UNIVERSO
- Canada: fuboTV Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea in the Premier League?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea takes place on Friday 14 February 2025, Valentine's night, with kick off at 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (EDT) & 12:00 (PST).