Game Week 14 Predictions: Chelsea to raid Brighton again?

How will Brighton fare against the team that raided them twice in two months over the summer? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Brighton vs Chelsea

Amex Stadium

3:00pm

How interesting is it for Graham Potter and Marc Cucurella to return to the Amex for the first time since their move to Stamford Bridge?

The Spanish left-back joined the Blues in the summer and was soon followed by the manager after Thomas Tuchel got the boots at Chelsea. It’s been great so far with Potter warming up to the fans with Champions League knockout round qualification and strong results in the premier league.

Brighton as a football club would look back at the time of Potter and wish he didn’t leave; the best they’ve gotten was a 3-3 draw against Liverpool that hasn’t been in their usual elements this season but they’ll still celebrate the achievement.

Two draws and a loss in three games can’t be said to be enviable, not beating Nottingham Forest raised some questions but new manager Roberto De Zerbi isn’t bothered just yet. A game against the team that raided them and left them a little naked portends huge opportunities.

Tactically, Brighton will keep it simple and hope Chelsea makes silly mistakes they can punish. Leandro Trossard has been a revelation this season and his great strike against Manchester City last weekend reminds anyone and everyone of what he’s capable of doing on his day.

Chelsea labored in vain against Manchester United last weekend. The Blues were coasting to victory after a late penalty seemed to have sealed a win but a last-gasp Casemiro header canceled out their goal and they settled for another stalemate.

Moses Caicedo will be immense in this game but he has to stay disciplined; the lad is a tough tackler and he’s never afraid to dive into tackles. Chelsea will be without N’golo Kante for a while and they will have to keep a double pivot in the middle.

Brighton has fallen off, from mixing it in the top four to battling to keep their place in the top ten. A good result here can help them steady the ship and hand De Zerbi his first win as a Brighton boss but he has to do it against the man he succeeded, a man with zero margins for errors in the Chelsea dugout.

Verdict: Chelsea to win