Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Preview, team news, how to watch
Today at 01:21 AM
Keep momentum going
Chelsea come into the weekend with good momentum and even better vibes, with head coach Enzo Maresca seemingly pushing all the right buttons at the moment: not just tactically, but in terms of team selections and man-management as well.
Of course, things can change very quickly in football, but with three home games left before the next international break, two in the league and one, our first ever in the UEFA Conference, we have a great chance to keep the current direction going and growing. Trusting the process is always easier when the process produces results.
First up are Brighton & Hove Albion. We got over our hoodoo against them last season, beating them three times (twice in the league, once in the League Cup) plus once in a summer friendly as well for good measure — albeit all four by just a single goal.
They are unbeaten coming in (two wins, three draws). Let us make sure that's not the case when they leave.
Date / Time: Saturday, February 28, 15.00 BST; 10am EDT; 7:30pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Forecast: partly cloudy with a chance of goals
Referee: Peter Bankes (on pitch); Michael Oliver (VAR)
On TV: none (UK); none (USA); none (India); SuperSport Blitz, Canal+ Sport 4 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: none (UK); Peacock (USA); Disney+, JioTV (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Chelsea team news: Maresca has handled the large (and fit!) squad well in these first few weeks, rotating smartly and effectively. The A-team are likely to take most of the starting spots in this one after sitting midweek. Regardless of who plays of course, the main idea is to keep building momentum. With games every 3-4 days, said momentum can be generated very quickly. Or lost very quickly.
"That is the most important to continue with the momentum. This is the only thing. I will be happy to share the three points with the fans at home. This is the most important thing."
"[We] can change players but the identity and idea is still there. This has to be, in this moment, the main target and then for sure, we are going to win games."
-Enzo Maresca; source: Football.London
Reece James is the only injury absentee of note, with Roméo Lavia ready for at least limited action and everyone else fully fit.
Brighton & Hove Albion team news: Brighton called time on the hipster days of Roberto De Zerbi ... and hired the youngest (non-interim) Premier League manager ever as his replacement! Fabian Hürzeler may be just 31 (Chris Coleman was the previous record-holder at 32 with Fulham in 2003), but he's yet to lose a game in five tries (seven if you count the League Cup as well). However, he won't be on the touchlines for this one after collecting a red card last time out, in the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. (UPDATE: actually, he will be there; apparently he was only fined for the red card?)
Brighton spent big over the summer, hiring no fewer than nine new players, six of whom cost at least £25m each — including attacker Georginio Rutter for a massive £40m from relegated Leeds United. Meanwhile, a couple stalwarts, like Pascal Groß and former Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour have left. (Gilmour went to Antonio Conte's Napoli, which seems like a solid fit.) But so far it's largely the old boys carrying the load, with Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra leading the team with three goals each.
The dangerous João Pedro has been ruled out with an ankle injury, joining the still-active James Milner and new signing Matt O'Riley on the sidelines. Solly March is may be ready to return soon however, after nearly a year out with injury.
Previously: An Enzo brace and Levi Colwill's first Chelsea goal, against his former loan team, got us the victory by the odd goal in five in this fixture last year. Conor Gallagher's dismissal halfway through the match made things more interesting than they should've been.
