Chelsea vs Brighton: Betting tips and analysis

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has kept his composure amid the storm brewing above him - so far. Can the Blues record a third consecutive league victory at home to Brighton this weekend?

Odds Now's Brad Walker runs you through all of the key details ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Tale of the tape

Chelsea

New Chelsea boss Maresca was among the favourites to be the first manager sacked this season but has put in a solid showing during the early weeks of the campaign.

His side have recorded consecutive wins in the Premier League against Bournemouth and West Ham - keeping clean sheets in both - and sit with 10 points to their name after five matches played.

Much has been made of the number of players on Chelsea's books but their wealth of options are bearing fruit. Christopher Nkunku rose from the bench to net a late winner in their 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium and was assisted by another substitute in Jadon Sancho.

Whether Maresca will be able to keep everyone happy in the long-term remains to be seen, but there can be no doubting the quality in the Blues' ranks.

Maresca has won three of his first league matches as Chelsea boss. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler has rightly been heralded for his strong start since taking over from Roberto De Zerbi in the Brighton dugout, but the German will have been disappointed with some of the points dropped in recent weeks.

Consecutive home draws against Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest have slightly underwhelmed given the Seagulls' early wins over Everton and Manchester United, but Hurzeler's crop give the impression of a squad which will thrive playing against some of the league's better sides.

One man who will be central to anything they do this weekend is Danny Welbeck. The 33-year-old has already scored three times in the league and bagged the first free-kick goal of his career against Forest last weekend.

Chelsea vs Brighton: Betting tips and predictions

Chelsea's positive form predictably sees them come in odds-on favourites at 3/4. Despite recent performances, I'm still reluctant to back them at that price, particularly given the strength of the Brighton side they'll be facing this weekend.

I will admit they've exceeded any expectations I had for them - so far, anyway. The same can also be said of their number nine Nicolas Jackson.

Already with four goals to his name, the Senegalese international comes into this one in rich form. Jackson has stepped up to the plate after the Blues' search for a striker ended without reward in the summer, netting his side's two opening goals in the 3-0 victory away at West Ham last weekend.

He also scored in his last Stamford Bridge appearance in the league - a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace - yet a Jackson goal at anytime still comes in at a wide 7/4 with bet365.

Given his recent form and Brighton's recent defensive record - they have kept just one clean sheet in their last four - I'd certainly be backing Jackson to improve his tally once again on Saturday afternoon.

Odds Now’s best bets for Chelsea vs Brighton

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