Prediction: Chelsea vs Brighton

Verdict: Chelsea win

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: Unibet

With the chance to break back into the Champions League positions on Tuesday night, Chelsea will welcome Brighton to an empty Stamford Bridge in midweek.

Chelsea

Starting with the hosts, after shocking many with their FA Cup display over the weekend, the mood in Chelsea’s camp should be at a real high. Ending Manchester City’s hopes of landing a quadruple-winning campaign this season at Wembley on Saturday evening, The Blues picked up a 1-0 victory across the capital. Also managing to extend on their Champions League adventure earlier in the month after eventually clinching a 2-1 aggregate win against Porto, new boss Thomas Tuchel has received a string of praise since taking over at Stamford Bridge back in January. With it appearing that their remarkable 5-2 defeat against relegation scrappers West Brom after returning from the international break was just a minor blip, Chelsea know that victory in midweek would see them break back into the top-four. Losing just a single domestic matchup since the former PSG boss took charge, Tuesday’s hosts will be confident of extending on their recent purple patch.

Team News

Andreas Christensen is likely to return for Chelsea following a three-match absence because of a muscle injury.

Thiago Silva could be rested, with head coach Thomas Tuchel concerned about the Brazilian’s recent workload, while Mateo Kovacic remains out.

Brighton

As for the visitors, putting in what was a stubborn display on home soil last week, Brighton simply have their sights set on trying to extend their buffer over the drop zone. Eventually playing out a 0-0 stalemate against European outsiders Everton at The Amex, Graham Potter’s side will make the trip to Stamford Bridge in midweek holding a six-point buffer over slipping into the bottom-three. Managing to enter March’s international break with back-to-back victories against Southampton and Newcastle, Graham Potter’s side do still have the feel of a club seeking some stability. Although the South Coast outfit might have only lost one of their last four Premier League matchups, the former Swansea boss has seen his squad record just a pair of wins since that 1-0 victory at Anfield on February 3rd. However, facing a tough trip to West London in midweek, it should be noted that along with a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea earlier in the season, Brighton have lost all three of their previous matchups at Stamford Bridge.

Team News

Brighton defenders Adam Webster and Dan Burn are in contention to start, having both returned to the matchday squad for last week’s draw against Everton.

Aaron Connolly is fit after a foot injury and Percy Tau might be involved.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off at The Amex back in September, Chelsea picked up a 3-1 victory.
• Likewise, The Blues have won each of their three meetings against Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
• Despite losing just one of their last four contests, The Seagulls have recorded just a pair of wins since the start of February.
• Brighton have failed to score more than a single strike in any of their previous nine away fixtures across all formats.
• Chelsea have lost just a single domestic matchup since Thomas Tuchel took charge back in January.

Conclusion

Managing to pick up that 1-0 victory against Manchester City and booking their spot in the final of this year’s FA Cup over the weekend, Chelsea will find the mood in their camp at a high. Gaining a string of plaudits since Thomas Tuchel took charge back in January, The Blues know that three points in midweek will see them break back into the top-four. With it appearing that their stunning defeat against West Brom after returning from the international break was just a minor blip, the former Premier League champions will be looking to extend on their recent purple patch. While Brighton might have managed to grab a point off of European outsiders Everton last time out, The Seagulls face a stern test on their travels in midweek. Suffering a 3-1 loss when they welcomed Chelsea to the South Coast earlier in the season and losing all three of their trips to Stamford Bridge, we’re backing a similar outcome on Tuesday night.

Verdict: Chelsea win

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: Unibet