Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 25
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
American Express Stadium
Brighton And Hove, England
Friday, 14 February 2025
Kick-off is at 22h00 CAT
Chelsea will be looking to firm their grip on a place in the Premier League's top four when they take on Brighton at the Amex on Friday, February 14.
The Blues returned to winning ways as they beat West Ham 2-1 in a London derby on February 3 to register their second victory in three league matches.
Enzo Maresca's side had dropped out of the UEFA Champions League spots after losing 3-1 at Manchester City on January 25, but the two teams traded places once more when the Citizens suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Arsenal on matchday 24.
However, the West Londoners will want to address a leaky defence which has seen them concede at least one goal in each of their last seven games since playing out to a 0-0 draw with Everton on December 22.
Chelsea have opened up a two-point gap to City (5th) and Newcastle (6th), although they remain four points behind Nottingham Forest, who crushed the Seagulls 7-0 on February 1 to continue their impressive run of form.
Albion have slipped to 10th position in the standings following a second consecutive defeat, although Fabian Hurzeler's side will be buoyed by their 2-1 triumph over Chelsea in the FA fourth round on February 8.
Suggested photo: Joel Veltman of Brighton
Hurzeler still has a whole host of injuries to contend with for the second meeting between the two teams in the space of just six days. Igor Julio, James Milner (both thigh), Jason Steele (shoulder), Ferdi Kadioglu (ankle), Solly March and Lewis Dunk (back) remain unavailable, but Pervis Estupinan and Mats Wieffer (thigh) could come back into contention.
Maresca is sweating on the fitness of Nicolas Jackson (thigh) and is already without Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile, Omari Kellyman (all thigh), Marc Guiu (groin) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension).
Joel Veltman admitted the players gave Hurzeler the perfect response after suffering their biggest loss in the Premier League at the hands of Forest seven days earlier.
"Obviously, we had a bad result [in the league]. But now it's a great bounce-back game against Chelsea at home. Everything we needed to do, we did," Veltman said.
"We knew the things we needed to improve. When you have an off day - maybe that's an understatement, although every shot went in for them (Forest) - then you need a response in the game after, and I think we did tonight.
"I wouldn't say the win could change everything - it doesn't need to change everything - but it's always, always nice. It's a funny one, because we get them (Chelsea) on Friday as well again. So we need to do the same again."
Suggested photo: Cole Palmer of Chelsea
Maresca was disappointed that the Blues weren't able to hold onto their lead against Brighton, having failed to win for the sixth time this season after opening the scoring in their games.
"It's for sure a shame, no doubt," the Italian said of his team's exit from the FA Cup. "We need to learn how to win games 1-0. I said many times.
"In the same way, in the last game against West Ham we were losing but in the end we won 2-1. That is part of the season, part of football, sometimes you are down and win and sometimes it happens like tonight.
"But I said already to the players weeks ago - and said again tonight - that as a team we need to learn to win games 1-0. That is what big teams do."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Brighton wins - 2
Chelsea wins - 3
Draws - 0
Premier League Matchday 25 fixtures:
Friday, February 14
22h00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Saturday, February 15
14h30: Leicester City v Arsenal
17h00: Aston Villa v Ipswich Town
17h00: Fulham v Nottingham Forest
17h00: Manchester City v Newcastle United
17h00: Southampton v Bournemouth
17h00: West Ham United v Brentford
19h30: Crystal Palace v Everton
Sunday, February 16
16h00: Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
18h30: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United