Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have predicted a goal-frenzy when Chelsea lock horns with Brighton this weekend. The Blues will welcome the Seagulls to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon as both sides look to climb the Premier League table.
Chelsea will be determined to return to winning ways following a disappointing defeat to Newcastle United. The west Londoners had enjoyed a decent run up until their trip to St. James' Park, picking up a win over Tottenham Hotspur and getting a hard-fought point from Manchester City.
As for Roberto De Zerbi's side, they're unbeaten in four Premier League games – albeit only picking up one win during this run. While Brighton may be confident, they had a crucial Europa League group stage clash away to AEK Athens on Thursday evening and they're also set to be without Lewis Dunk due to suspension.
In a weekly column for SportsKeeda, Merson described the Seagulls captain as a 'big miss'. The former Arsenal midfielder, predicting a 2-2 draw, said: "This one could go anywhere. It’s a hard game to call. You just don’t know what you’re gonna get with Chelsea.
"Last week, I thought they did well in the first half against Newcastle United. I thought they were the better team but they just didn’t turn up for the second half.
"It’s the same with Brighton. You never know what you’re going to get. They haven’t won too many games in the last seven or eight. Now they are going on a little bit of a run.
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"They were five games without a win heading into last weekend’s match against Forest. Now they are six games without a defeat. They’re picking up. Lewis Dunk will be a huge miss after getting sent off against Forest. This will be a tightly contested affair."
Speaking to BBC Sport, Sutton chimed in and offered his verdict on Chelsea's upcoming clash. The former Blues striker said: "I just have to laugh when I think about trying to make a prediction here.
"I say every week how I have no idea what to expect from Chelsea, and every week I get it wrong. They are so inconsistent, while Brighton are not exactly easy to call at the moment either, because they concede so many goals.
"I will be right about Chelsea at some point, though, and this time I am thinking they surely have to respond after they lost so heavily at Newcastle.
"Brighton play AEK Athens in Greece on Thursday night and, because of that, I am going to go with Mauricio Pochettino's side to edge a high-scoring game... so stand by for a 0-0 draw that is last on MOTD2. 3-2."
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