After a couple of unconvincing performances from Thomas Tuchel’s men – Chelsea fans are enjoying their festive football as their side recorded a brace of competitive away wins on either side of Christmas Day. And for their next fixture, tradition implies Chelsea should be happy to welcome one of their favorite opponents.Brighton & Hove Albion arrive at Stamford Bridge (22.30) to try and defeat the reigning champions of Europe for the first time since 1933! Yes, you read it right – Chelsea haven’t lost to the Seagulls since their very first meeting back in January 1933 – after that encounter, the Blues won twelve matches and drew three.The Blues hope to close 2021 – a year to remember thanks to their UEFA Champions League triumph – on a merry note.If they win against Brentford, City will win the Premier LeagueThe Blues marched to a 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, but their success at Birmingham came at quite the cost, with Tuchel joining his fellow top-flight managers in bemoaning the hectic schedule as a number of his important players once again entered the treatment room. Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante being forced off was not a pleasant sight for the Blues boss – the Brazilian is unlikely to meet Brighton due to a thigh injury while there is some chance French midfield dynamo will be able to recover from his knee issue.Brighton gave their fans a late Christmas present by breaking their 12-match winless run in all competitions with a 2-0 win over Brentford on Boxing Day.‘If we play like against Leciester, we won’t catch City’Although the Seagulls haven’t claimed a league away win since September, Graham Potter’s side has been hard to break down on the road and much of that away success has been down to their never-say-die attitude. Back in October, they managed to draw 2-2 at Liverpool after being 2-0 down inside 25 minutes.”I like them a lot, I think they are a great club with a great coach and a great approach to how they play the game. When you switch on the TV to watch them you clearly see an idea of how they want to play.”, said Tuchel about Brighton.”Very demanding to play against them, they play with a lot of confidence, they have many good individual players, they have a top coach and they are a tough side to beat.””I know they struggle a bit with the results but they deserve in general a bit more than they have, they create more than it shows on points.””They play with fluidity, they attack high, they have a lot of individual quality and that’s why it is a tough one.”Wounded Foxes are not to mess with – Liverpool suffer defeat with Salah missing a penaltyAnother positive note for the guests from the south coast is the fact Chelsea could not keep a Premier League clean sheet on home soil since the 7-0 thumping of Norwich City back in October.The reinvigorated Brighton outfit ought to feel confident of prolonging that streak tonight.It has been a struggle for this depleted Chelsea side to truly assert their dominance in the top flight, even with their enviable squad depth.”If you speak about central midfield, let’s assume N’Golo is out (against Brighton), maybe Ruben is out, so one positive test is enough for the thing to collapse because then Kovacic will play again 90 minutes … and you risk injuries,” Tuchel said.”This is what we do at the moment. I can’t see how we’re out of the COVID threat at the moment as it doesn’t feel like it.”Arteta will miss the Manchester City tie on New Year’s Day due to coronavirusWhen the sides met last time in April, Chelsea and Brighton played out a goalless stalemate and with Tuchel’s side far from convincing at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks, we shouldn’t be surprised if Potter’s crew disappoints the home crowd.Chelsea are currently leveled on points with second-placed Liverpool – who have played a game fewer – but Man City are still riding off into the sunset at the top of the pile. Mason Mount, Jorginho and the rest need to snap out of the recent lethargy and get back to the form they nurtured at the beginning of the season.PREMIER LEAGUE – Round 20TuesdayWatford – West Ham 1-4 (1-2)/Dennis 4 – Soucek 27, Benrahma 29, Noble 58 pen, Vlasic 90+2/Southampton – Tottenham 1-1 (1-1)/Ward-Prowse 25 – Kane 41 pen, /Crystal Palace – Norwich 3-0 (3-0)/Edouard 8 pen, Mateta 38, Schlupp 42/Leicester – Liverpool 1-0 (0-0)/Lookman 59/Arsenal – Wolverhampton Wanderers POSTPONEDLeeds – Aston Villa POSTPONEDWednesday22.30: (1.43) Chelsea (4.60) Brighton (9.00)23.15: (15.0) Brentford (7.00) Man.City (1.22)ThursdayEverton – Newcastle POSTPONED23.15: (1.40) Man.Utd. (4.90) Burnley (9.00)***odds are subject to change
