Brighton & Hove Albion – Chelsea FC
Our Brighton – Chelsea tip is: Chelsea win the 1st half – 2.65 odds
- Chelsea have won four of their last five first halves
- Chelsea have won the first half in the last three direct duels
- Brighton have lost four of their last six PL home first halves
The American Express Stadium is set to play host to a repeat of the FA Cup clash between Brighton and Chelsea on Friday evening. Just a few days ago, the Seagulls, under the leadership of coach Fabian Hürzeler, beat the Blues 2-1 – a victory that felt like a relief after three months without a win at home.
Brighton are looking to catch up with Fulham (two points behind) from 10th place in the table, while Chelsea are in a much better position in fourth place. It will be interesting to see how the personnel situation develops at Brighton after captain Lewis Dunk had to leave the cup game early due to injury.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are criticized for their overly conservative tactics, even though they are only two points behind Manchester City. The recent defeat in the cup should provide the Blues with additional motivation – especially since they have scored in every game so far this season. This promises to be a high-class Premier League duel with an open outcome. You can find out who will come out on top in the end in our Brighton – Chelsea tip.
Brighton – Chelsea info
- Stadium: American Express Stadium, Falmer, East Sussex
- Date and time: 14.02.2025, 21:00
- Competition: Premier League, Matchday 25
- Broadcast: SKY
Brighton Form & Record Check
Brighton are currently in remarkably changeable form. The recent 2-1 FA Cup win against Chelsea marks an important turning point after the Seagulls had previously suffered two heavy defeats in the Premier League – including a surprising 1-0 loss to Everton and a disastrous 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest.
Lack of consistency at Brighton?
The lack of consistency is particularly noticeable in home games, where the team only recently celebrated their first victory in three months. Interestingly, Fabian Hurzeler’s team often appear too passive in the first half – they have not managed a single win in the first 45 minutes in their last five games. The offensive duo of Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma usually only find their dangerous form after the break.
Brighton are still looking up from 10th place in the table, but are only two points behind ninth-placed Fulham. However, the injury to captain Lewis Dunk, who had to leave the cup game against Chelsea prematurely, is causing concern for the coaching staff. One may wonder whether the Seagulls will find the defensive stability needed to compete for European places without their defensive leader.
Brighton facts & analysis
- Last 2-1 FA Cup winners against Chelsea
- Not won a single 1st HZ in last five games
- 10th place
Brighton are expected to field a classic 4-2-3-1 system. Their recent FA Cup performance, especially the win over Chelsea, could have a positive effect on the team. There are slight concerns in defense, mainly due to the injury of captain Dunk. His replacement could be Webster. In midfield, Baleba and Hinshelwood seem set, while Mitoma and Rutter are likely to play a major role in offense due to convincing performances.
Chelsea Form & Record Check
Chelsea are currently going through a phase of inconsistency, which is particularly reflected in their last few games. The current fourth place in the table with 43 points somewhat belies their actual form. In their last five games, the team have recorded two wins, one draw and two defeats – most recently a 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup against Brighton.
The attacking approach under coach Enzo Maresca is striking. It may be creating excitement, but it is also revealing defensive weaknesses. In the last five games, Chelsea have scored reliably, but have also conceded at least one goal in each game. Cole Palmer in particular stands out as a ray of light, impressing with his accuracy and efficiency in front of goal.
Chelsea impress in the first half
The battle for a place in the Champions League is hotting up – just four points separate Chelsea from Nottingham Forest, with Manchester City hot on their heels, just two points behind. Interestingly, the team is particularly dangerous in front of goal in the first half, with a rate of 80 percent of matches with at least one goal before the break. The question will be whether this attacking approach leads to long-term success or whether more defensive stability is needed.
Chelsea facts & analysis
- 4th place in the table
- Without a win in the last four PL away games
- Scored in the first half in the last four PL games
Chelsea are expected to field the tried and tested 4-2-3-1 system under coach Maresca. According to the information, Sánchez could start in goal. The defense could consist of Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, and Cucurella. Caicedo and Dewsbury-Hall could start in central midfield. The attacking line could include Palmer, Neto, and Sancho, with Nkunku as the striker. This formation is expected to try to hold its own against Brighton’s aggressive pressing. It will be particularly interesting to see how the wingers and the striker interact.
Brighton v Chelsea head to head & stats
The head-to-head between Brighton and Chelsea has been very intense in recent times. Interestingly, it was only a few days ago, in February 2025, that Brighton ended a remarkable winning streak for the Blues with a 2-1 FA Cup victory.
Before that, Chelsea dominated the encounters: in September 2024, the Londoners won 4-2, in May 2024 they won 2-1 away and in December 2023 they also came out on top 3-2. The prelude to this series was a 1-0 victory in the League Cup in September 2023.
What’s striking is that there have been a lot of goals in almost all of the last five encounters. Four of the five games ended with three or more goals. Chelsea scored in every single game, while Brighton scored in four out of five games. You would think that both teams would have adjusted well offensively to each other.
Another constant: draws do not seem to be on the cards in this duel – all five games have had a winner. With their latest success, Brighton could now have the momentum on their side, after Chelsea had previously recorded four wins in a row against the Seagulls.
