Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca does not expect that last week's FA Cup defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion will have an impact on the Premier League collision of the teams on Friday.
Brighton came from behind to dump Chelsea from the cup in the fourth round phase last Saturday, with Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma score in a 2-1 victory in the Amex Stadium.
The teams will come together again on Friday for a competition wier at the same location, with both three points needed.
While Brighton was beaten 7-0 by Nottingham Forest in their last league match, Chelsea has recently been inconsistent.
The blues remain fourth in the table, but Manchester City, Newcastle United and Bournemouth are all within three points.
Asked if the loss of Saturday at Friday's game will have influence, Maresca said: “I don't think so. Different competition, different game.”
The Italian felt that Chelsea performed well for periods of the latter meeting, despite the result.
He added: “We checked much better in the first half. In the second half, the only shots they had, we gave a goal.
“We have tried to come here and our game. We had a few chances at 2-1. Now we can concentrate on the Premier League and Conference League.
“We always try to win the games. But in the same way you have to take the result of the result.”
Brighton (A) in the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/rxe5hkxuwi
– Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) 12 February 2025
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was meanwhile delighted by the way his players stepped against Chelsea, a week after their heaviest league-defeat since August 1958 (9-0 versus Middlesbrough).
He said BBC Sport: “Great reaction. We showed character. I am proud of how they returned. It's not easy. That's why it was well deserved.
“It was a solidarity on the field. It is a team performance. They bounced back, they stayed together. They did not point to fingers after losing. They took ownership.”
Hurzeler has also praised Rutter, who is now the most important scorer of the Seagulls in all competitions this season with seven goals.
“Georginio Rutter is doing well. He quickly adapted to the intensity of the Premier League,” said Hurzeler. “He has great skills and he showed it again.”
Players to watch
Brighton – Bart Verbruggen
Verbruggen scored his own goal in the FA Cup last week and made four mistakes that led to a goal in the Premier League this season. Only Chelsea's Robert Sanchez and Arijanet Muric from Ipswich Town have committed more, with five each.
In the meantime, only Wolves' (15.7%) and the opponents of Manchester City (14.5%) convert their shots with a higher rate than that of Brighton (13.9% – 38/273) in the Premier League this period .
Chelsea – Cole Palmer
Palmer scored four goals in the reverse match against Brighton earlier this season -most of a Chelsea player once scored against an opponent in a single Premier League campaign is five.
Gianluca Vialli versus Barnsley (in 1997-98), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaina against Tottenham (2001-02) and Diego Costa versus Swansea City (2014-15) all achieved that performance.
Match forecast – Chelsea Win
After enjoying an unbeaten run of five games against Chelsea in the Premier League (two wins, three draws), Brighton has now lost each of their last three against the blues.
Chelsea has indeed lost only one of their last seven leaving competition matches against the Seagulls (four wins, two draws), although they lost less than a week ago in the Amex in the FA Cup.
Chelsea is also on the longest current Windless Streak away from home in the Premier League (two draws, two losses) and have been four without victory since the start of Tottenham with 4-3 early December.
The men of Maresca had an average of 2.9 goals per match in their first eight road competition matches of the season, but only scored 0.5 per match during this Winless Run.
Brighton is now unbeaten in their last three Premier League home matches against parties that start the day in the top four (two wins, one draw), although the Hurzeler Windless team is in the Amex since beating second place man City in November (two draws, three losses).
Friday again at home. pic.twitter.com/ugzkrk1ozz
– Brighton & Hove Albion (@officialbhafc) 12 February 2025
The seagulls can lose three consecutive league games for the first time since March 2022 (a point of six under Graham Potter). If Chelsea can leave their heads behind frustrations, they have to get away with three valuable points.
Opta wins probability
Brighton – 33.8%
Chelsea – 41.1%
Drawing – 25.1%
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