Kick-off: 1930, 29/12/2021
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
TV: Amazon Prime
Chelsea have been far from convincing over the festive period and may have to settle for a workmanlike win against Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
Albion are enjoying a solid season and tend to be involved in tight tussles, with their 17 games this term producing just 33 goals.
We reckon 2.05 for a home win and under 3.5 goals is the way to go with our opening Chelsea vs Brighton prediction.
Chelsea’s Betting Odds
After being held to a draw by Everton and Wolves in the run-up to Christmas, Chelsea had to come from behind to win 3-1 at Aston Villa.
Jorginho cancelled out a Reece James own goal with a penalty before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at half-time and put the Blues in front.
The powerful forward, who has been blighted by an ankle injury and then Covid-19, netted his first Premier League goal since September.
Lukaku also won the stoppage-time spot-kick which allowed Jorginho to make sure of victory.
However, Thomas Tuchel lost N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva to injury at Villa Park while Ben Chilwell remains absent and Kai Havertz and Timo Werner must recover from Covid.
“It’s a big win but I’m always concerned for the health and safety of the players and that’s why you don’t see me fully excited,” Tuchel said.
“Normally, you could catch huge momentum and push them but the only thing we are doing is checking on a daily basis who can be pushed.”
Tuchel will no doubt be content to grind out wins until the schedule eases and the Covid situation settles down but getting Lukaku back is a major boost.
Looking at the Chelsea vs Brighton odds, there is obvious appeal in 5.0 for the Belgium ace to break the deadlock in a home victory.
Last Chelsea line-up: Mendy, Rudiger, Alonso, Silva, Chalobah, James, Jorginho, Kante, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi.
Brighton’s Betting Odds
Brighton had gone 11 top-flight fixtures without a win before beating Brentford 2-0, with Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay scoring stunners.
Two superb saves from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and a brilliant goal-line clearance from Marc Cucurella helped end a barren run dating back to September 19.
Albion had drawn eight times since their last triumph but Graham Potter admitted: “Whilst we have been picking up points, that was important for us.
“We’re on the back of a little run that we’re frustrated with, which isn’t very nice, and to win was fantastic, really pleased for the boys.”
Victory for Brighton lifted them up to a very respectable ninth position, three points above the Bees.
Influential forward Trossard did suffer a slight hamstring strain, though, and will be a big loss if unable to recover in time for this tough test.
Brighton have failed to score in four visits to Stamford Bridge since gaining promotion in 2017 and could struggle to buck that trend.
Two of those matches were won 2-0 by the Blues and 6.5 for that result to come up again completes our Chelsea vs Brighton betting tips.
Last Brighton line-up: Sanchez, Lamptey, Cucurella, Webster, Burn, Mac Allister, Mwepu, Lallana, Moder, Maupay, Trossard.
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