In an attempt to alleviate their struggles in the Premier League, Chelsea will be hosting Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
The Blues’ recent 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa has added to their season woes, while the high-flying Seagulls secured a confident 3-1 victory over Bournemouth.
Match Preview
Chelsea’s season has taken a turn for the worse as they suffered yet another disappointing defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Malo Gusto’s red card in the 58th minute was followed by Ollie Watkins’s winning goal in the 73rd minute.
With three losses in their six Premier League games this season, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have only managed to secure one victory.
In fact, only Luton Town and Burnley have scored fewer goals than Chelsea’s five.
As a result, the Blues currently sit in 14th place, 10 points behind third-placed Brighton and a mere four points clear of the relegation zone.
Furthermore, the 2020-21 Champions League winners find themselves nine points adrift from the top four.
Having started their EFL Cup campaign with an unconvincing victory over AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea will be eager to improve their performance against Brighton.
Their previous encounter saw them come from behind and narrowly win 2-1 against the fourth-tier team.
On the other hand, Brighton has enjoyed a remarkable start to the season, winning five out of their six Premier League matches.
Their impressive form has kept them within reach of Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the standings.
Despite a 3-2 loss against AEK Athens in the Europa League last week, Roberto De Zerbi’s side bounced back with a convincing 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth.
Brighton’s attacking approach has made them the highest-scoring team in the Premier League this season, with 18 goals in their six league outings. With this in mind, they will be confident in their ability to extend Chelsea’s misery.
Team News:
Chelsea is facing an injury crisis, leaving manager Mauricio Pochettino short of options for the EFL Cup clash.
Several key players, including Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, and Marcus Bettinelli, are currently sidelined.
As a result, Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is expected to make his debut, while Cole Palmer and Ben Chilwell are set to return to the starting XI.
Brighton will be without injured duo Julio Enciso and Jakub Moder, and James Milner and Pascal Gross are doubtful for the match.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi has shown a willingness to make changes to his starting lineup, so we could witness a new-look Brighton side, with players like Jason Steele, Adama Lallana, Solly March, Ansu Fati, and Joao Pedro pushing for a starting spot.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Chelsea:
Petrovic;
Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell;
Caicedo, Gallagher;
Palmer, Fernandez, Sterling;
Broja
Brighton & Hove Albion:
Steele;
Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan;
Lallana, Gilmour;
March, Fati, Mitoma;
Pedro
Prediction:
Considering Chelsea’s recent struggles and Brighton’s impressive form, it appears that Pochettino’s side will face another challenging evening.
Brighton’s ability to score goals, evident from their 20 goals across all competitions this season, suggests that they are likely to secure a high-scoring victory at Stamford Bridge.
