Chelsea vs Brighton Predictions

• Only Brighton (3.54) produced a higher open play xG on the opening weekend than Chelsea (1.96)
• The Seagulls have scored two or more goals in six of their last seven meetings with Chelsea
• Chelsea are without a clean sheet in any of their last 17 Premier League games
• Danny Welbeck is the highest-scoring player in Premier League matches between Chelsea and Brighton

Attack still the best form of defence for Chelsea

Chelsea and Brighton both made winning starts to the Premier League season last weekend and followed those successes up with cup victories – the Blues beating Luton in the EFL Cup and the Seagulls putting four past Tromso in the Conference League.

Two wins from two is certainly a strong start for new Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso – with front three Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers all clicking into gear – but defensive fragility remains a concern.

The Blues conceded twice against Fulham in their Premier League opener and have now gone 17 matches in the top flight without keeping a clean sheet.

An open play xG of 1.96 underlined that Chelsea can outgun their opponents in the final third, but so can Brighton, who were the only team to boast a higher open play xG on the opening weekend, racking up a total of 3.54 in their 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa.

Seagulls have previous against Blues

Brighton followed up that 4-0 success over Villa by beating Tromso by the same scoreline to secure their place in the league phase of the Conference League.

Confidence should certainly be high within Fabian Hurzeler’s squad, especially as they have won each of their last four meetings with Chelsea in league and cup and have scored two or more goals in six of the last seven head-to-heads.

The last seven clashes between the two sides have produced a minimum of three goals, with three of those going over that mark, including last season’s meeting at Stamford Bridge that ended in a 3-1 win for Brighton.

Welbeck to have major say against former club

There has been a flurry of Brighton players and staff that have left the club to join Chelsea over recent years, the latest of which, Danny Welbeck, could have a major say on Sunday.

Welbeck marked his Blues debut with a goal in Thursday’s cup win over Luton and although he may have to revert to the bench on Sunday, he could still have a big role to play as a substitute.

The experienced 35-year-old is the highest scorer in Premier League matches between Chelsea and Brighton, netting six times in the fixture previously, four of which have come at Stamford Bridge, although those efforts were all produced when he was representing the Seagulls.