Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Brighton and Chelsea meet at the Amex on Wednesday morning New Zealand time in a Premier League fixture that could go a long way to deciding who finishes in a European spot. One point separates these two sides - Chelsea sixth on 48, Brighton ninth on 47.

Chelsea haven’t scored a Premier League goal in four consecutive matches. In this Brighton vs Chelsea preview, I’ve broken down form, team news and the numbers, with a play at odds above $3.00 on best legal betting sites for those who want to get involved.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton are unbeaten in four Premier League matches and have won three of their last five. Two of those wins were at Sunderland and Burnley, but the big one was the 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the Amex in March - Danny Welbeck scoring twice. Brighton at home are dangerous against anyone right now.

Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Spurs summed them up - Georginio Rutter scrambled a 95th-minute equaliser after Brighton had trailed twice.

Welbeck has 12 Premier League goals this season and five goals and two assists in eight league meetings against Chelsea.

Team News: Gomez is out after being stretchered off at Spurs with a leg injury. Milner, Webster and Tzimas are also sidelined. Dunk returns from a two-match suspension.

Predicted Lineup: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Ayari, Gross; Minteh, Hinshelwood, Mitoma; Welbeck.

Chelsea

Four straight Premier League defeats without scoring - zero goals against Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United. Five blanks in a row if you include their Champions League exit to PSG. Estevao Willian lasted just 16 minutes against United before going off with a hamstring injury, and he’s now out alongside Reece James, Levi Colwill and Jamie Gittens.

Joao Pedro missed the United match with a thigh issue but is expected back for a trip to his old club. Enzo Fernandez went off with cramp against United too, but he should be fit.

Cole Palmer has nine Premier League goals this season and five in his last three against Brighton specifically. If Chelsea are going to break this drought, Palmer is the one who does it.

Team News: Estevao, Colwill, James, Gittens and Jorgensen are all out. Pedro is expected to return. Fernandez should be fit.

Predicted Lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro.

• Brighton have won the last three meetings against Chelsea across all competitions.
• Chelsea have failed to score in four consecutive Premier League matches.
• Both teams have scored in eight of the last nine head-to-head encounters between these sides.
• Welbeck has five goals and two assists in eight Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
• Palmer has scored five goals in his last three league games against Brighton.
• Brighton are unbeaten in their last four home league matches, including a 2-1 win over Liverpool.

I’m picking Brighton. Chelsea’s confidence is gone and I’m not sure a trip to the Amex - where Brighton have won their last three against them - is the place to find it. Dunk coming back steadies their defence, and the form gap between these two sides is about as wide as a one-point table difference can get.

Chelsea’s issues go deeper than personnel. Even before the injuries piled up, they were shipping goals - nine of their last 10 across all competitions have seen them concede. And when they do get the ball into the final third, there’s been no cutting edge.

I’d be surprised if Chelsea drew another blank, though. Pedro coming back gives them a real focal point up front, and Palmer against Brighton is borderline unfair given his record. But scoring once and actually winning are very different things for this Chelsea side right now.

I’m expecting a 2-1 Brighton win, maybe 3-1 if Chelsea chase the game late. If you’re looking at sign up bonus sites ahead of the midweek fixtures, this is a game worth having a look at.

Brighton to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $4.20

Both teams have scored in eight of the last nine meetings between these sides. Pedro’s return should give Chelsea enough to finally break their goalless run - five consecutive blanks against a side they’ve always scored against is unlikely to become six.

But I don’t see Chelsea’s defence coping with Welbeck and Minteh at the Amex. A Brighton win with both sides scoring at $4.20 is a price I’m happy to take. For punters using football tips pages to guide their midweek bets, Brighton at home in this form should have too much.