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Sky Sports host Jeff Stelling has backed Brighton & Hove Albion to pick up a 2-1 win in their Premier League clash with Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on Saturday (April 15).
One of the richest clubs in the world, Chelsea are languishing in a lowly 11th place in the Premier League. Manager Graham Potter was sacked following their 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa at home on April 1. Interim coach Bruno Saltor oversaw a goalless draw against Liverpool on April 4 before being replaced by Lampard.
Returning to the club as interim manager, Lampard has overseen consecutive defeats. The Blues lost 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend in the Premier League before suffering a midweek 2-0 defeat at Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
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Lampard and Co. will look to return to winning ways against the Seagulls at the weekend, but Stelling does not believe they will have their way. In his Super 6 prediction on Sky Sports, Stelling said:
“Brighton will pick up a valuable three points in their quest for Europe against a Chelsea side who are winless in four and goalless in three.”
Brighton find themselves in seventh place in the Premier League. They are seven points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur but have a couple of games in hand. The Seagulls need to finish fifth to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
Chelsea have faced Brighton 12 times, winning six games, losing twice and drawing four times. The Seagulls have never beaten the Londoners at Stamford Bridge.
Gary Neville reveals what would make Chelsea Premier League contenders next season
The Pensioners are closer to the drop zone (12 points) than they are to the top four (17 points). With hopes of securing European football turning slimmer by the minute, positive updates have been few and far between.
Amid the doom and gloom, former Manchester United star Gary Neville has offered some respite, backing the West Londoners to fight for the Premier League next season. Neville reckons they could emerge as title contenders if they appoint a great manager and buy a striker and goalkeeper.
On The Overlap, he said:
“Chelsea are short of a manager, a centre-forward. I think the goalkeeper could be better. If you put a proper manager there and a couple of decent signings ... they’re well out of it at the moment, but they could be nearer than all we think.”
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang falling out of favour, Kai Havertz has operated as Chelsea’s first-choice centre-forward this season. Playing out of position, the German has scored a team-high nine goals in 40 games across competitions.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has played regularly this season, courtesy of Edouard Mendy’s poor form and finger injury. The former Athletic Bilbao man has also looked unconvincing, letting in a few sub-par goals. He has played 31 times this season, keeping 12 clean sheets.
