Team
news and stats ahead of Chelsea vs Brighton in the Premier League on Tuesday
(kick-off 8pm).
Team News
Chelsea hope to have Andreas Christensen fit, with the Denmark defender
having recovered from a muscle problem to be available.
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic remains sidelined with hamstring trouble, while
defender Thiago Silva could take a seat on the bench after featuring twice
last week.
Brighton striker Aaron Connolly could return to their squad following a foot
injury.
The Republic of Ireland international has not featured since the 1-0 defeat
to West Brom on February 27 but has trained freely during the past week.
Defender Tariq Lamptey (hamstring) and winger Solly March (knee) remain
sidelined for Albion.
Opta stats
Since losing their first-ever meeting with Brighton in January 1933 (1-2 in
the FA Cup), Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 14 against the Seagulls,
winning 12 and drawing two.
Brighton have lost all six of their away games against Chelsea in all
competitions, with the Seagulls failing to score in all six of their visits
to Stamford Bridge against the Blues (14 conceded).
Chelsea have never been behind in seven Premier League meetings with
Brighton - only three teams have ever played more against an opponent in the
competition without going behind; Newcastle against Nottingham Forest (8),
Man City against Sheffield United (10) and the Blues themselves against
Portsmouth (14).
Chelsea's last home league game ended in a shock 2-5 defeat to West Bromwich
Albion. In the Roman Abramovich era (since 2003-04), the Blues have only
lost consecutive home league games twice - in November 2011 under André
Villas-Boas and December 2019 under Frank Lampard.
Brighton have kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, with
seven of those coming since the turn of the year - they last registered more
shutouts in a top-flight campaign in 1981-82 (14).
Since winning promotion in 2017, Brighton have drawn more Premier League
games 0-0 than any other side (16), including last time out against Everton.
Indeed, the Seagulls have registered five goalless draws this season, their
joint-most in a Premier League campaign alongside 2017-18.
Thomas Tuchel's first 10 Premier League games in charge of Chelsea produced
just 13 goals (F11 A2), at an average of 1.3 per game. The Blues' last two
league games have seen 12 goals scored (F6 A6), an average of six per game.
Kai Havertz both scored (1) and assisted (1) a goal in Chelsea's 4-1 win
against Crystal Palace last time out. The German had been involved in just
three goals in his first 22 league appearances for the Blues (1 goal, 2
assists).
Christian Pulisic has scored three goals in his last two Premier League
games for Chelsea, as many as in his previous 26 in the competition. He's
looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for just the
second time (also in November 2019).
Robert Sánchez has kept a clean sheet in 40% of his 20 Premier League
appearances (8 of 20), the best such ratio of any Brighton goalkeeper in the
competition (Mat Ryan 22% and David Button 25%).
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