Chelsea face a midweek trip to Brighton this evening as they look to secure European football for next year, and it’s live on talkSPORT 2.

The Blues are in the hunt for the Europa Conference League spot this season but face a three-way battle with Newcastle and Manchester United.

Mauricio Pochettino‘s side are now in a good position to secure some form of European football despite their indifferent start to life under the Argentine.

Meanwhile, the Seagulls could actually help decide who finishes in the European spots, given they play Chelsea and Manchester United.

They are heading into this one off the back of a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Newcastle, and Roberto De Zerbi will want his side to end a disappointing campaign strongly.

Brighton vs Chelsea: Improving Nic Jackson ohh

Given this is Nicolas Jackson‘s first season in the Premier League, he’s actually returned a good number of goals.

The young Senegalese forward has missed plenty of big chances this year and is still raw.

But he’s the only first-team striker at the club, and after a poor start, he’s starting to look like an accomplished forward.

Jackson scored just two goals in his first nine games, while he picked up five yellow cards in that time for dissent.

He scored a hat-trick against nine-man Tottenham, but then scored just two more in the next 13 league games.

However, just as the season has been approaching its conclusion, Jackson is starting to show signs he’s becoming more consistent in front of goal.

He has seven goals in his last 12 matches and has scored in three consecutive games for the first time.

Certainly, there are some real positive signs there.

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• After a five-game unbeaten run against Chelsea between 2021 and 2023 (W2 D3), Brighton have lost both meetings with the Blues in all competitions this season.
• Chelsea lost this exact fixture 4-1 last season, but have never lost consecutive visits to Brighton in all competitions.
• Chelsea have only won their final away league game in one of the last six seasons (D1 L4), beating Leeds United 3-0 in 2021-22.

Brighton vs Chelsea: Team news

Brighton have been decimated by injuries all season, and they are set to be without plenty of important players.

Solly March, Pervis Estupinan, Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson have no chance of playing in either of their remaining games.

Joao Pedro missed the draw with Newcastle due to an ankle injury and is doubtful for this one.

James Milner has been out for a while with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to be risked, while Jack Hinshlewood is also injured.

Jan Paul van Hecke is doubtful, while Joel Veltman suffered a knock at the weekend.

In contrast, Chelsea’s injury worries are easing.

Reece James returned to action in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest and set up Jackson’s winner, but it’s unlikely he’ll start.

But the Blues will be without Wesley Fofana, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez.

Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka have returned to full training, so could be involved.

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• Brighton have failed to score more than once in each of their last 11 Premier League games, their longest such run in the competition. They last had a longer run without scoring at least twice in a league game between March and August 2015 (12), last having a longer such run in a single season in 2004-05 (a run of 15 between September and December 2004).
• Chelsea have won 29 points in the Premier League in 2024 (P16 W8 D5 L3), with only the top three clubs Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool winning more since the turn of the year. Indeed, the Blues have lost just one of their last 13 league games (W7 D5), and will be looking to win four on the bounce for the first time since October 2022.
• Chelsea have lost each of their last six away Premier League games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) since a 0-0 draw with Brentford in October 2022. Their last such win was in May 2022 at Leeds United (3-0) – which was their final away league game of the 2021-22 campaign.

Brighton vs Chelsea: What has been said?

Jamie Redknapp believes that Chelsea must keep Pochettino as manager.

There has been a lot of talk that the Blues are prepared to part ways with the former Tottenham boss, but Redknapp thinks he should stay.

He said: “I genuinely think there has been dialogue that’s been very positive for Mauricio, and next year he will be the manager, by the looks of it.

“I think it would be crazy not to do that. I think you’ve got a lot of young players there that need a little bit of guidance and a bit of time, and I certainly think he’s the right man.

“I just don’t think it’s the answer to just go and change and chop and get another manager. If things don’t start well next season, obviously, you maybe start to look at it, but you can’t give a manager a year, managers need time. 

“Look at what Arteta has had to do. Took two or three years before he established himself as the dominant figure in that dressing room. Now look, and he had a few struggles, power struggles, with players. 

“He won those struggles, and now he runs that club and runs that dressing room. Mauricio might have to have that as well, and it will take time.”

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• Brighton have won 16 of their 33 Premier League home games under Roberto De Zerbi (D9 L8). A win over Chelsea will mean the Italian has won more matches with the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium in the competition than any other manager, overtaking Graham Potter’s 16 wins in 60 such games (Chris Hughton won 13 of 38).
• If James Milner features for Brighton in this game, it will be the 38th different time he’s played against Chelsea in the Premier League – the joint-most any player has faced an opponent in the competition’s history (Ryan Giggs also 38 v Liverpool).
• Cole Palmer has had a hand in 31 Premier League goals this season (21 goals, 10 assists), with only three Chelsea players contributing more goal involvements in a single season in the competition; Didier Drogba in 2009-10 (39 – 29G, 10A), Frank Lampard in 2009-10 (36 – 22G, 14A), and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2000-01 (32 – 23G, 9A).
• Nicolas Jackson has been directly involved in five goals in his last three Premier League games for Chelsea (4 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 11 such games (3 goals, 2 assists). Indeed, with 14 league goals already this term, none of which have been penalties, he could be the first player for the Blues to score 15 non-penalty goals in a Premier League season since Tammy Abraham in 2019-20.

Brighton vs Chelsea: Date and how to follow

This Premier League game is set to take place on Wednesday, May 15.

Kick-off at the Amex is scheduled for 7:45pm.

talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage from the south coast with Alex Crook and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto providing commentary.

talkSPORT.com will also have all of the reaction.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.