Chelsea go again this Sunday when we welcome Brighton to Stamford Bridge.
Brighton are our new arch enemies in this league and they absolutely HATE us (at least their fans do). So it’s a real grudge match and I am sure their fans will be in full voice full of entertaining chants in the direction of us, Moises Caicedo; but not Marc Cucurella as he is suspended. They’ll probably cheer Levi Colwill though because they still think he plays for them!!
We all know how Brighton play and we know they will come with energy, physicality, and a mentality to go away from that game with all three points.
Brighton are only two places above Chelsea in the league but frustratingly now, the gap between mid-table and challenging for European places is becoming much larger and Brighton are 6 points ahead of Chelsea now.
Of course, we can half that by winning on Sunday, but it is not going to be as easy as that – far from it.
Chelsea have been given a 56% win probability though, and Brighton have only been given 22%. I’m guessing these forecasters missed the Newcastle game and only focused on the Manchester City game!
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are in action tonight in the Europa League which should help Chelsea a little in terms of being fresher. But that’s also just a bit of straw grasping from me. And to be honest, the way Poch blasted them in training yesterday they will still arrive at the game on Sunday with sweat on their brows!
Brighton have beaten Ajax twice in Europe this season, winning 2-0 in each game, and although they have been up and down in the league, they are unbeaten in all competitions in their last 6 games.
Their last defeat was against Manchester City and before that, they also lost 6-1 to Aston Villa.
They have actually conceded 3 more goals than Chelsea have this season, but they have also scored 6 more than us.
Historically, these two sides have only met on 21 occasions so far, with Chelsea winning 13 and only losing 3.
In fact, before 2022 when we lost to them twice in a row, the only other game we had lost to Brighton was the very first meeting between the two teams in 1933.
Chelsea of course beat Brighton in the last meeting, which was in The League Cup this season.
We really do need to stamp out any kind of tide turning on our historical domination of Brighton, and we can continue that on Sunday.
In terms of starting Xl for Mauricio Pochettino, once again it remains heavily dependent on late fitness calls on injured players, or rather one – Malo Gusto. He has not been training yet this week and although there has been hope from some that he will be OK for the game due to training all last week, it is now very touch and go as to whether he will make it.
I do not believe that Christopher Nkunku will start yet, but he has a chance of making the squad. Romeo Lavia is just that little bit further behind him and I doubt we will see him in the squad on Sunday. No sign of Carney Chukwuemeka yet but there is hope he makes a squad before Christmas.
With all of that in mind, this is the team I think Pochettino will go for on Sunday:
I know, I know, FOUR centre backs across the back four, not ideal.
I would start Ian Maatsen at left back personally, but I really don’t think Pochettino will. And my gut feeling purely based on the fact he is yet to train this week, is that Gusto will not be fit to start. So that means the only option left would be Disasi.
Remember, Cucurella and Reece James are both suspended.
My wildcard is I have a feeling that Poch might start Armando Broja and give him a shot. There has been a lot said about Broja this week so it just has that feeling that he might come in for a chance. Personally, I WOULD be starting Broja over Jackson on Sunday. We need that healthy competition, and I also think Broja is a better striker.
Let’s see, and we will know more tomorrow after Poch has spoken to the media about injuries etc.
My prediction
Of course we can win this. We can beat any team. But my optimism has shrunk after the Toon game, and I think it could be a similar kind of game to that. Brighton have the capability to score goals and will be super dangerous on the counter. They will be fully up for it and not allow us any time on the ball. I also have no idea what Chelsea will turn up. We could beat Real Madrid one week, yet with the same lineup lose to Notts County the next. That is where we’re at right now!
I predict a 2-2 draw. I think there will be goals, but I think it will be a super tough game for Chelsea to win.
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