Premier League Preview: Chelsea Battle for Fourth at Falmer Stadium

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea

A lot of football fans may see the 2018/19 Premier League season as a duel between Manchester City and Liverpool as they have built a sizeable lead ahead of everybody else. However, I don’t think that the rest of the chasing pack has just given up on the hopes of getting even with the league leaders.

Chelsea are one of the teams looking for a prime opportunity to climb the table and steal the top spot with their exciting brand of football under Maurizio Sarri. In order to do that, they must win every football game they play against Premier League opponents of varying levels.

Their opponent this coming weekend are Brighton & Hove Albion. Depending on who you ask, this game is either an easy win for the guests or a fixture that could upset Premier League 2018 betting tips.

It will be up to us to skim through the Premier League 2018 highlights these two sides have produced and see which team will walk away from Falmer Stadium with the three points.

Talking Points

Chelsea continue their battle for supremacy

Some of the Stamford Bridge faithful may have already dismissed their chances of winning the title this season after stumbling in the league over the past month. Their losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton counted them out of what was supposed to be a three-horse race into two.

However, that does not mean that Sarri-ball hasn’t been an effective weapon for the Blues. Sarri’s boys have shown time and time again that the system works and they just need more time before they can fully master Sarri’s preferred style of play.

However, it isn’t like the Blues haven’t shown results with Sarri’s tactics in the first place. They have gotten points from 14 of their 16 games this season, and they have always played competitive football. The sweetest of their wins this season so far was the 2-0 victory they snagged against an out-of-form Manchester City.

Moreover, they have an array of impressive players ready to step up to the plate. With players such as Eden Hazard, Marcos Alonzo, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta performing at top levels, there is no question that this Chelsea squad can play. I also think that the squad should be deep enough and have enough cash to deal with a potential Alvaro Morata departure in January.

They are obvious favourites in many Premier League 2018 betting tips to win this fixture, and it is up to the players to turn that prediction into reality.

Brighton’s scrap for points continue

Brighton are fighting hard to keep their place in the Premier League this season — Brighton’s Florin Andone and Anthony Knockaert practicing prior to their match against Burnley

Brighton may be enjoying a second season at the top flight, but I think every player, staff and fan of the club know that they have a long way to go before becoming an established Premier League side.

Everyone in the United Kingdom clearly knows that the side can provide some high-quality Premier League 2018 highlights if they put their mind into it. A shining example of their potential is the 3-1 stomping they gave Crystal Palace despite going down to ten men.

However, the biggest problem for Chris Hughton’s side is consistency. They helped Burnley escape the relegation zone with a narrow 1-0 loss. Their poor results to Cardiff City, Southampton and Fulham also put them at risk of joining the battle to keep out of the drop.

If the team were to ever survive the second-season syndrome, they need to get organised fast. The Shane Duffy-led defence must shore up their weak spots. Moreover, Glen Murray needs some help up front. Solly March must involve more of the team into scoring goals so that their 35-year-old striker isn’t the only one handling the burden.

I don’t think they stand a chance against Chelsea, but they could at least make things interesting.

History

Brighton have had a patchy season so far. They only won three of their 16 league games, and their seven draws are the only thing that is keeping them from joining the drop zone. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s league record is almost spotless in comparison.

I don’t think much needs to be said about the two’s head-to-head history. While Brighton pulled off a fast one on the Blues during a 2012 friendly, the Blues have convincingly won against the Seagulls in their first two Premier League games.

Betting Tip

	Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea	Chelsea -1.50 Asian Handicap @ 2.49
	December 16,2018 21:30 (GMT+8)

I find it almost impossible for Chelsea to lose a football game at this point in the season. There is no European football to be played, the remaining fixtures of the year are against subpar opposition, and they are playing one of the most exciting footballing systems in the world.

Many SBOBET football fans are already placing bets on Chelsea, but I think the Asian Handicap market has a lot of potential for winnings. Chelsea could easily win against the Seagulls by a significant number of goals, and I don’t think Eden Hazard would go easy on scoring just because he’s facing Brighton.

If you’re looking for an underdog success, the First Half Asian Handicap market is worth a peek. The Over-Under market is also a source of sure winnings. I think a punt on Chelsea 0-2 on the Correct Score market for 6.60 is not a bad risk, either.