Chelsea vs. Brighton and Hove Albion, Premier League: Team news, preview, how to watch

Chelsea have shown much promise but little consistency so far this season, especially in the Premier League, but will be hoping to tip that balance in favor of wins as Brighton and Hove Albion come for a visit this fine late-September Saturday.

In the four games since the international break, Chelsea have scored 13 goals: 5 against Wolves, 7 against Grimsby Town, and a grand total of 1 against both Valencia and Liverpool in back-to-back one-goal home defeats. Only two teams have scored more goals than Chelsea in the league this season, Manchester City and Liverpool. Only two teams have conceded more, Norwich City and Watford. Six Premier League games so far: two wins, two draws, two losses.

In which direction we go next, no one knows, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Date / Time: Saturday, September 28, 2019, 15.00 BST; 10am EDT; 7:30pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Chris Kavanagh — fifth career Chelsea match for Kavanagh; we’re a perfect 4-for-4 so far, including all three games last season
Forecast: Breezy, drizzly, autumn-y

On TV: none (UK); NBCSN, Universo (USA); Star Spors Select HD1 (India); elsewhere
Streaming: NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); Hotstar (India)

Chelsea team news: After the youth revolution’s finest hour thus far on Wednesday, Chelsea are expected to return to a more familiar look, though with plenty of youth anchoring key positions still, including Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, and Fikayo Tomori.

Antonio Rüdiger and Emerson remain out with muscle injuries, but both Olivier Giroud and Andreas Christensen are back in contention as Chelsea’s numbers in the treatment room dwindle to a season-low number countable on just one hand. Progress!

This will be Chelsea’s fourth successive home game, which will be followed by back-to-back away dates before the October international break arrives. A chance to put together a strong min-run of good results then.

Brighton team news: After an opening day win over Watford, Brighton have gone winless in five (three draws, two defeats), and have also been eliminated in the League Cup this week by losing at home to Aston Villa. They may have been a bit unlucky, both in terms of injuries and the results themselves, but there’s every chance the Seagulls will be in a relegation fight all season, where every point will be crucial. They will be hoping to nick one today, to be sure.

New boss Graham Potter will be without Leandro Trossard, Ezequiel Schelotto, Leon Balogun, Shane Duffy, Solley March, and Jose Izquierdo. After 25 goals over the last two seasons, Glenn Murray is scoreless thus far — that won’t last forever. Brighton do have the talent to rise above their current station and must not be taken for granted.

Previously: Party time with seven goals, though still no clean sheet.