After a bright start under Liam Rosenior, Chelsea have lost five of their last six Premier League games to fall seven points behind fifth-place Liverpool, so the Blues boss knows his side need to get back on track against his former side if they are to stand any chance of staying in Europe's elite competition next season - and perhaps have any hope of holding onto his job at Stamford Bridge.
It will be far from easy at the Amex Stadium though with Brighton among a cluster of five clubs chasing down the Blues in sixth, with a potential victory on Tuesday taking the Seagulls above their opponents in the table.
Check out our in-depth preview for Brighton vs Chelsea, including lineups, predictions and bet builder tips. The Seagulls are slight favourites at 29/20, with a Chelsea win priced at 8/5 and a draw 13/5.
Georginio Rutter was the man to break Tottenham's hearts with a late equaliser to keep them firmly in relegation trouble and we think the striker will be full of confidence ahead of facing another London side.
The French striker has only managed three goals in the Premier League this season but averages a shot on target every other game, which isn't bad considering he's not been a regular starter of late. We reckon he'll get the nod for this game on the South Coast and test Robert Sanchez between the sticks.
Enzo Fernandez to be shown a card
Enzo Fernandez's return to the Chelsea starting XI could not prevent a 1-0 defeat to top-five rivals Manchester United and we think he'll keep his place in the side despite going off with cramp late in the game.
Rosenior will want his skipper to take the game to the Seagulls and that could see him overstep the mark in the centre of the park. With 10 yellows already this season, we're tipping the Argentinian to add another.
Chelsea to score under 0.5 goals
Four straight Premier League defeats for Chelsea is bad enough, but the fact they have done so without scoring will set alarm bells ringing at Stamford Bridge, with the early momentum when Rosenior took charge well and truly a memory at this stage.
Chelsea have lost their last two away games at Brighton, including a 3-0 loss last season, and we think there could be another goalless game on the horizon for the Blues, with Liam Delap still yet to convince in Joao Pedro's absence.
Brighton to win or draw
That brings us onto our final pick, which is for a Brighton win or draw in a double chance. While we agree with the bookies that a Brighton win should be favoured, there is every chance a tight encounter is on the cards, with a narrow margin likely whatever unfolds.
Two of the four recent defeats for Chelsea have been decided by a single goal, while one goal or less has also decided five of the last six Brighton results, so a double-chance pick covers your bases if a close affair plays out.
You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a Brighton vs Chelsea Bet Builder.
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When is Brighton vs Chelsea?
Brighton vs Chelsea takes place on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.
Where can I watch Brighton vs Chelsea?
Brighton vs Chelsea will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Can you bet on Brighton vs Chelsea?
Ladbrokes are offering customers the chance to bet on a number of Brighton vs Chelsea markets, including match result, both teams to score and goalscorers.
