While there aren’t any heavyweight clashes to speak of this weekend, the neutral may well be intrigued by Brighton v Chelsea at the Amex on Saturday.
Graham Potter makes a dramatic return
All eyes will be on Graham Potter as the Chelsea boss will return to the South Coast for the first time since taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge last month. The Blues will have felt they should have snaffled all three points in their last EPL outing with Manchester United, but a last-gasp equalizer by Casemiro denied them the win. Brighton, meanwhile, are winless since Roberto De Zerbi stepped into the hot seat, and they will have been hurting after a 3-1 reverse at the hands of Manchester City last weekend.
Nevertheless, there are a few interesting stats that we have pieced together which you should bear in mind ahead of the game:
- Chelsea are undefeated in 10 previous EPL meetings with Brighton.
- Brighton haven’t led for a single minute in any of their past 10 EPL clashes against Chelsea.
- The last three encounters have ended in draws.
- Kepa Arrizabalaga has been outstanding for the Blues this season, averaging 4.2 saves per match which is a success rate of 91%.
Potter will be desperate to make a point, but can Brighton defy expectations? The most reputable US online betting sites will be on hand with a multitude of pre-match market lines.
And to drum up excitement, we have selected a few tips for you to mull over in the run up to kick-off.
Happy homecoming for Graham Potter
To date, Chelsea look transformed under Potter. It was a good week for the west London outfit as they punched their ticket into the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners with a 2-1 win away to Red Salzburg. That victory means Potter’s troops are undefeated in each of their past nine matches in all competitions, and momentum is building. Some might suggest that there has been an element of luck and that Potter has been papering over the cracks, but if anything, Chelsea have been good value for their money.
While a couple of their earlier results this campaign against Leeds and Southampton pointed to Chelsea’s struggles on the road, this could be a happy homecoming for Potter. And if you like the look of Moneyline, Chelsea is trading at +150 with DraftKings to collect three points against the Seagulls which could propel them back into the top four if Newcastle slip up against Aston Villa.
Don’t expect a classic
While there may well be some fascinating subplots to this match, Potter, as suggested, will be the focal point, and he will want to silence his detractors. Interestingly, games at the Amex Stadium average 1.8 goals per game while the Under 2.5 goals market has hit in eight of Brighton’s last nine EPL fixtures when they have played at home on a Saturday.
Also, the Both Teams to Score market has struck in each of the past four matches between Brighton and Chelsea at the Amex. Chelsea arguably have been goal shy, managing just 16 in the EPL, while the Seagulls have been reliant on Leandro Trossard, who has contributed six of Brighton’s 15 this term. If you wish to explore the totals Over/Under section further, then DraftKings has supplied odds of -360 for there to be Under 3.5 goals which may be worthwhile.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to find the target
It hasn’t quite clicked yet for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has perhaps endured the same misfortune when Romelu Lukaku pulled on the Chelsea jersey. Despite a much-improved display against Salzburg in midweek, Aubameyang had five shots on target but he fired blanks. The Gabon hitman’s only EPL goal this term arrived in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace earlier this month, and with no goals in any of his past four matches in all competitions, he is perhaps overdue one. Aubameyang used to relish facing the Seagulls as he scored in his first three EPL appearances against them in 2018 and 2019 when he plied his trade for Arsenal. Chelsea are dangerous offensively, and Aubameyang may present more of a threat than Raheem Sterling for example.
Although he has failed to score in any of his past five outings against Brighton, things could change for him this weekend. The Goalscorer market is worth consulting, and Aubameyang is available at +170 with FanDuel to score anytime in the 90 minutes.
