Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side will be looking to get their 20/21 Premier League season off to the right start when they travel to the AMEX Stadium to take on Graham Potter’s Brighton and Hove Albion. The match promises to be an exciting encounter with a couple of the Blues’ summer signings expected to make their debuts. A win to start off the campaign would be the minimum expectation of the fan base given the money they’ve spent, and the London club will need to do everything in it’s power to ensure that as well.
One of the biggest frustrations for Lampard going into this fixture will be the fact that the Blues actually haven’t had a pre-season. The friendly 1-1 draw at the Amex against the same opposition remains the only fixture wherein the team has played together. With just a few days of training under the belt for some of the names as well, it could well turn out to be a challenging affair to start with. The Seagulls are known for their effectiveness from set-pieces, and that was Chelsea’s downfall last season.
Team News
Although the London club have asserted their dominance in the transfer market, a majority of their signings are yet to be ready. Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva is only expected to join for training on the weekend, while Hakim Ziyech is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a minor injury he picked up against the Seagulls. Ben Chilwell arrived at Chelsea with a slight heel issue, and the staff are still working on getting him back to full fitness as well. As positive news though, Lampard has conceded that Christian Pulisic could be in line to return to action on Monday. Mateo Kovacic is serving a suspension following his dismissal in the FA Cup final.
Here Is The Predicted 4-3-3 Chelsea Lineup Vs Brighton:
Predicted 4-3-3 Chelsea Lineup Vs Brighton
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Although there is no guarantee that Kepa Arrizabalaga is going to be number one for the campaign, it’s likely that the Spanish will start in goal for Chelsea on Monday. In front of him, Lampard could opt for a central defensive pairing of French ace Kurt Zouma and German international Antonio Rudiger. The latter was sensational for Germany during the UEFA Nations League, and Lampard would probably have noticed that as well. Despite Reece James’ rise, expect the usual duo of Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta operating in the full-back slots.
Midfield
The Blues could opt to start their league campaign with a two-man pivot. Mateo Kovacic remains suspended from the FA Cup final, which means that Jorginho could come into the side and be partnered up with French international N’Golo Kante in the Chelsea engine room. The Italian is known for his ability to find threatening forward passes and create openings, while Kante’s defensive dynamism will be crucial to Lampard achieving his goals this season. German trickster Kai Havertz is likely to make his Chelsea debut in this tie operating in the more advanced midfield role.
Attack
The boost of Christian Pulisic’s return to fitness could see him coming straight back into the Blues’ eleven. The American was nothing short of a sensation in the latter stages of last season, and his directness in the final third is sure to be instrumental again this time around. With Ziyech out injured, young Callum Hudson-Odoi could be given a start on Monday night, with German hitman Timo Werner also expected to make his Premier League debut. It will be interesting to see if the new attackers can settle into the gritty nature of the English game quickly enough.
