Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Brighton have quickly become one of Chelsea’s bogey teams in the Premier League, something Xabi Alonso needs to put right at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Fixtures against the Seagulls have become more of an occasion since the Blues signed plenty of players from them. Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo and Danny Welbeck have all come from the Amex.
Despite this, the recent record leans heavily in Brighton’s favour. They have won five of the last eight Premier League meetings between the two sides, including doing the double last season.
How Xabi Alonso can put an end to Chelsea’s terrible record against Brighton
This comes after Chelsea were unbeaten in their first 10 league fixtures against this opponent, and Alonso will need to come up with a solution to stop this familiar opponent on Sunday.
The first massive advantage the Blues will have over Brighton is time around is the presence of Morgan Rogers in the squad, with him boasting an excellent personal record against this opposition.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
The England international has four goal involvements in five games against them, and will surely be in Alonso’s starting XI tomorrow.
The Blues will also be massively boosted by the fact Welbeck is now on their side, rather than the opposition’s, with him scoring more goals against Chelsea than any other Premier League club.
This included three against us just last season, however this time he will be looking to add to his tally for the Blues following his debut goal against Luton Town.
Both defeats in the 2025/26 season came with Chelsea playing in a back four system, one they are expected not to use at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Alonso elected to stick with his back three system for the Premier League opener against Fulham, and the transfers made in the summer suggest they will stick with that for more difficult games.
Brighton have proven themselves to be tough opponents for the Blues in recent seasons, however the Spaniard is equipped to get them past this hurdle at Stamford Bridge.