Brighton vs Chelsea preview, predictions & confirmed team news as Pulisic and James start
Brighton will look to build on their victory over Bournemouth out when Chelsea visit the Amex Stadium in the first Premier League game of 2020.
Chelsea continue to be lethal on the road, coming back to beat Arsenal at the weekend after easing past Tottenham a week prior.
But will Brighton prove to be the Blues‘ undoing?
Read on for our preview, predictions, TV info, team news and more.
When is Brighton vs Chelsea and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Amex Stadium
Date: Wednesday, 1 January 2020
Kick-off: 12:30 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate
Last five meetings: Brighton vs Chelsea
28 September 2019: Chelsea 2-0 Brighton (Premier League)
3 April 2019: Chelsea 3-0 Brighton (Premier League)
16 December 2018: Brighton 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
20 January 2018: Brighton 0-4 Chelsea (Premier League)
26 December 2017: Chelsea 2-0 Brighton (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Brighton (LLLLL) 1-13 Chelsea (WWWWW)
Ones to watch
Brighton: Aaron Mooy
Mooy has been Brighton’s top performer in recent weeks and continues to go under the radar as one of the best players outside the ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League.
His new position for Brighton – slightly further forward, usually operating in that left-centre channel – is working wonders, and the Australian will be hoping for a repeat of his brilliantly taken goal against Bournemouth here.
Key stat: Mooy’s goal against Bournemouth was hist first since April, when he was on the scoresheet for Huddersfield Town against Leicester City.
Chelsea: N’Golo Kante
Chelsea will be desperate to start better than they did against Arsenal, when they allowed the Gunners to control the first half at the Emirates and take the lead.
It’s vital, then, that Kante is commanding from the beginning. He took a while to grow into the game on Sunday, but he ended up being one of Chelsea’s most effective players. Can he do it again at the Amex?
Key stat: Kante made more recoveries (9) and made more tackles (7) than any other player on the pitch against Arsenal.
Team news
Brighton
Brighton have made two changes from the team that beat Bournemouth at the weekend with Adam Webster and Steven Alzate replacing Shane Duffy and Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
Confirmed XI: Ryan; Montoya, Dunk, Webster, Burn; Propper, Mooy, Bissouma; Alzate, Maupay, Trossard.
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Chelsea
Lampard has returned to a back four after the success in the second half against against Arsenal with Reece James, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic replacing Emerson, Mateo Kovacic Fikayo Tomori in the starting XI.
Teenager Tariq Lamptey is on the bench once more after making his debut at the weekend.
Confirmed XI: Arrizabalaga; James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Kante, Jorginho, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic.
Squawka prediction
Chelsea have recorded impressive back-to-back victories on the road in huge London derbies. They must ensure they don’t lose any motivation just because they are playing a perceived lesser side in Brighton. If their best players turn up, the Blues shouldn’t have too many problems, though it could still be tight.
Scoreline prediction: Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
Check out more of Squawka’s Premier League predictions here.
