The opening day of the Premier is not too far away now. However, not all the English top-flight teams are yet up to speed. Brighton will play their first pre-season game of the season when they take on Chelsea as part of their US tour. The Seagulls finished 6th in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season and very few would argue that they overachieved with the squad they had.
Their achievement was all the more amazing, considering that their then manager Graham Potter was hired by their upcoming rivals Chelsea and was replaced by Italian mastermind Roberto de Zerbi.
While it did not work out for Potter and the Blues, De Zerbi and Brighton hit it off immediately, setting up some of the shocks of the seasons in the league. With European football on the cards for the 23/24 season for De Zerbi’s men, they need to up their game, and what better way to test their limits than facing a Chelsea side ready for redemption?
Chelsea on the other hand, had to give Graham Potter the axe after a tumultuous first six months. Frank Lampard was brought in on an interim basis but could not help the squad much.
Mauricio Pochettino has been brought in to lead the new era for the Blues and their outing against Wrexham showed glimpses that better things are to come. They managed to win 5-0 on the day and early signs show that they will only get better.
There is still loads of work to do for the West London club, both on and off the field but things are beginning to take shape at a very good speed. This All-English top flight clash might be an early indicator of which team is ready for the challenges that lie ahead of them in the new season.
Chelsea vs Brighton lineups
Chelsea predicted lineup
Pochettino was able to test his younger crop of players in the friendly against Wrexham. With the likes of Kepa, Slonina, Silva, Colwill, Mudryk, Enzo and Madueke not playing any part in that match, the Argentine manager will be ready to push them back into action.
Ian Maatsen stole the show with his brace, while Jackson was just brilliant with his linkup play. Cesare Casadei dominated the midfield for the Blues but his future lies on loan elsewhere. Nkunku got off the mark and that will do him loads of confidence going further into the season.
Pochettino isn’t short on options as witnessed against the Red Dragons, but he might start fielding the more senior players, given the Premier League season isn’t too far away from now.
Predicted Chelsea lineup: Kepa, Maatsen, Colwill, Chalobah, Gusto, Santos, Chukwumueka, Sterling, Angelo, Nkunku, Jackson.
Brighton predicted lineup
Brighton might have achieved the impossible last season but things will only get real from here on. The pressure of managing league and European duties simultaneously has got the better of so many clubs in the past and De Zerbi will want to avoid that.
The Italian will also have to make sure his players’ feet are grounded and in trying to do so he has added competition to the squad. New goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen will likely be the new first-choice replacing Roberto Sanchez, while James Milner and Mahmoud Dahoud were also signed on free transfers.
Given this is the Seagulls’ first pre-season match for the new season, not much can be made out of their next lineup. But knowing De Zerbi he will most likely want to field a strong lineup.
Predicted Brighton lineup: Verbruggen, Estupinan, Dunk, Webster, Lamptey, Gimour, Ayari, Enciso, Joao Pedro, March, Ferguson.
Chelsea vs Brighton predictions
This should be a much easier outing for Chelsea as compared to Brighton, The Blues have already got some pre-season minutes under their belt in the scorching heat of the US.
Brighton meanwhile might have had more time under their manager but fitness will be a key factor here. Pochettino’s men outran Wrexham easily and Brighton should be no different.
The scoreline might be very close and this might end up being an end-to-end affair. Expect the Blues to edge this one out. Chelsea 3-1 Brighton.
