Fabian Hürzeler will be confident that his team can match Chelsea at the Amex tonight, having knocked Enzo Maresca's team out of the FA Cup at the weekend with a 2-1 win. Both teams are back on the south coast on Friday night to see if the result will be the same in league action. That victory will have gone some way to wash the taste of the 7-0 shellacking from Forest out of Brighton's mouths, but their overall form has been shaky in 2025, so they will need to approach this game cautiously.
Chelsea have also failed to reach the heights of their early season form of late, winning two, drawing two and losing one of their last five in the league since the new year. They are looking to find the consistency needed to nail down a Champions League qualification place as the chasing pack of Man City, Newcastle and Bournemouth remain right on their heels. Maresca will surely hammer home to his players the importance of picking up all three points here.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Team News
Like many Premier League clubs, Brighton are hampered by several injuries. Veteran James Milner, goalkeeper Jason Steele, and the very useful Ferdi Kadioglu are among the players filling their treatment room. Perhaps most importantly, Ecuadorian maestro Pervis Estupinan could return but this is also doubtful.
Enzo Maresca has to deal with several key absences of his own. Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and crucially Nicolas Jackson are all ruled out through injury. Fringe players Marc Guiu and Omari Kellyman are on the sidelines with them. What's more, Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mukdryk remains unavailable while he awaits the resolution to the provisional doping ban he received in December when he tested positive for a prohibited substance.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Possible Lineups
Lewis Dunk should be fit after being substituted at half-time of the cup game between these two at the weekend, but it's not 100%. Assuming he is fit, the hosts will likely stick with him and their other regular starters, with Joao Pedro among the names drafted in.
Brighton & Hove Albion Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Lamptey; Baleba, Hinshelwood; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Joao Pedro
Reece James was left out at the weekend as Enzo Maresca desperately tries to avoid reinjuring his club captain but could start here. Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke were also rested but should feature.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea Team Prediction
The Seagulls got the better of a slightly rotated Chelsea team but with all the big hitters coming back and three Premier League points at stake, Maresca's men should be able to reverse the score line and cement their place in the top four.
Prediction: Brighton 2 - 1 Chelsea
Two great teams, two great coaches, the Friday night lights - this match should be a great start to another Premier League weekend.
Fans in the UK can watch Brighton vs Chelsea on TV or via live streaming on Sky Sports.
