Chelsea take on Brighton next in the Premier League this weekend with Graham Potter’s men hoping to maintain their winning ways and move up the league standings.
The west Londoners picked up a 2-1 win over Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday night in the Champions League which ensured them their spot in the next round of the competition and kept alive Potter’s unbeaten streak since his arrival in the Chelsea dugout.
Saturday’s outing will see Potter return to his former side who have now Roberto De Zerbi in charge since Potter’s departure while De Zerbi is still on the hunt for his first win as the Brighton manager.
The new Seagulls head coach has not been able to inspire his players to up their performances, especially in the final third of the pitch, with Brighton scoring just four in five games – all through the in-form forward Leandro Trossard.
Potter, meanwhile, has enjoyed a flying start to life at Stamford Bridge and has been credited with a reversal of fortunes for the Blues who are unbeaten after nine games after the change in managerial duties.
Chelsea were held to a 1-1 stalemate last time around in top flight action with rivals Manchester United with Casemiro scoring in the dying embers of the match to salvage a point for side on their travels to the Bridge.
The Blues have faced the problem of not having a regular goalscoring threat with summer signing Aubameyang guilty of missing a couple of great chances in midweek’s win over Salzburg which was eventually sealed through goals from Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date – Saturday 29 October 2022
Time – 3 PM GMT
Venue – American Express Community Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Kalidou Koulibaly staged his return to training the day following the Salzburg clash and he could be in contention to make the Chelsea XI for the game against Brighton.
Midfield man Mateo Kovacic was taken off as a precaution in the win over Salzburg but he is likely to be drafted in the XI alongside Jorginho for the upcoming game.
N’Golo Kante, Reece James and Wesley Fofana all remain long-term concerns on the injury front for the Chelsea boss Graham Potter with their return expected only after the World Cup later this year.
KEY BATTLE
Leandro Trossard vs Kai Havertz
Trossard has been one impressive name on the Brighton team sheet and perhaps the only player who has emerged as the go-to option for the new Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi.
The Belgian netted a hat-trick against Liverpool earlier in the season, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to achieve that feat at Anfield.
For Chelsea, who have endured struggles in front of the goal with their goalscoring threats failing to hit the ground running in a consistent manner, midweek’s match winner in the shape of Kai Havertz will be tipped to help his side going forward and steer them to the three points up for grabs.
MATCH PREDICTION
We predict the visitors to come out on top in what should be a tightly contested affair against Brighton.
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
