Chelsea vs Brighton
- Kick-off delayed from 8pm GMT to 8.15pm
- Reports emerge that Chelsea are preparing to withdraw from Super League amid fan protests at Stamford Bridge
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, Zouma, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Mount, Alonso, Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic
- Brighton XI: Sanchez, White, Webster, Dunk, Bissouma, Mac Allister, Trossard, Gross, Welbeck, Burn, Veltman
19:08 ,
Michael Jones Brighton and Hove Albion have dropped 20 points from a winning position this campaign, a joint-league high alongside Spurs.
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Chelsea to withdraw from European Super League
19:05 ,
Michael Jones 10 minutes to go until kick off at Stamford Bridge, and the big news in the build up is that Chelsea are set to leave the proposed European Super League:
© Provided by The Independent Chelsea set to withdraw from European Super League
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18:58 ,
Michael Jones Since winning promotion in 2017, Brighton have been involved in an unrivalled 16 goalless draws in the Premier League. They have kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, seven of them since the turn of the year. It's their best top-flight record since recording 14 clean sheets in 1981/82.
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Pre-game thoughts from Graham Potter
18:55 ,
Michael Jones Very pleased. Our feelings have been known, it stands against everything we know as football. It would be wrong to create something where no threat of relegation and you want the chance to compete to play in Europe.
"If we are in a place where it is stopping, that is fantastic news. Sometimes a fan can be thought of as a consumer and we are in danger if that is the case.
"Credit to the fans for making their case, and the quicker we get back to playing for points the better."
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18:51 ,
Michael Jones Chelsea have kept 14 clean sheets in 19 competitive matches since Thomas Tuchel became head coach.
Christian Pulisic has scored three goals in his past two league appearances, as many as in his previous 26. He's looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for just the second time.
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Thomas Tuchel speaking to Sky Sports
18:46 ,
Michael Jones I don't know anything, I spent the last 45 minutes on the bus waiting to come to the stadium. I know I am in a super competitive club and I trust the club.
"It is all about competition and this what everyone feels watching our team. We were giving everything in the UCL, the FA Cup, we left our heart and soul on the pitch. I am not aware of any of the politics. I don't know enough and I trust the club they take decisions in the consideration we embrace competitive sport.
"It is annoying and frustrating. From Monday we wanted to build the momentum and atmosphere and being ready. It was not our fault but we have to accept we are a bit distracted and now we will see."
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18:43 ,
Michael Jones Brighton have only won twice in nine league matches, including one of their last five at home. A sixth top-flight away victory of the season would represent a club record for the Seagulls.
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18:39 ,
Michael Jones Chelsea could lose consecutive league games at Stamford Bridge for only the third time since Roman Abramovich became owner in 2004. It previously happened in November 2011 and December 2019.
They have dropped points in eight of their 15 home league matches, more than in any of the previous 23 seasons bar 2015/16.
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House of cards falling apart
18:34 ,
Michael Jones The European Super League seems to be falling apart before it even started as Manchester City are following Chelsea's lead to withdraw from the competition.
© Provided by The Independent Man City to follow Chelsea in quitting Super League
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Kick off delayed
18:30 ,
Michael Jones There's quite a bit going on at Stamford Bridge tonight, and kick off has been delayed to 8:15pm due to problems with players getting into the ground.
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Neal Maupay on tonight's match
18:29 ,
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Head-to-head
18:26 ,
Michael Jones Chelsea are unbeaten in 14 games against Brighton since losing the first meeting in January 1933, they've won 12 and drawn two of those games. The Blues have won all six competitive home fixtures against the Seagulls, scoring 14 goals without reply.
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Thomas Tuchel on a top four finish
18:23 ,
Michael Jones It's better if our direct competitors don't win but we have to do what we can do and what we can influence,
"We have an absolutely crucial week coming up with Brighton and West Ham ahead of us so it's in our hands now to make a huge step.
"We come from a very successful, very emotional and very demanding week with games in Seville against Porto and at Wembley against City, so now is the moment to put full focus back on the Premier League and to make hopefully a huge step in this race.
"We did not close this gap to give priority to any finals or semi-finals. We are clearly 100 per cent focused on the next week and there are no more important games than Brighton and West Ham."
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Update on the European Super League
18:20 ,
Michael Jones ______________________________
Graham Potter on Chelsea
18:18 ,
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Recent results
18:13 ,
Michael Jones Chelsea are flying high after defeating Porto 2-1 over two legs to progress into the Champions League semi-finals and beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup to make it to the final for the fourth time in five years. Of the 19 games Thomas Tuchel has led Chelsea the Blues have only lost two. The second leg of the Champions League quarter-final to Porto (1-0) and a 5-2 loss at home to West Brom in the Premier League.
Brighton have taken seven points from their last possible 12, losing just once in their last four Premier League games. Last time out they held Everton to a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium and this little run of form has given them a six-point cushion over the drop zone with two games in hand. Any points the Seagulls can pick up this evening will be a big boost to their chances of survival.
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Team news - changes
18:11 ,
Michael Jones Thomas Tuchel makes five changes to the Chelsea starting XI that defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final last Saturday. Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen come into the defence with Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva dropping out. Marcos Alonso comes in for Ben Chilwell with Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic replacing N'Golo Kante and Timo Werner.
For Brighton there are three changes. Adam Webster and Dan Burn return to the back line woth Alexis Mac Allister coming for Neal Maupay. Adam Lallana and Jakub Moder are the others to drop out.
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Team news - Chelsea vs Brighton
18:02 ,
Michael Jones Amid all the news about the European Super League there's still a match to be played tonight. Here's the team news from Stamford Bridge:
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Fans hearing that Chelsea may withdraw
17:55 ,
Michael Jones Reports from the BBC say that Chelsea football club are preparing documentation to withdraw from the European Super League. Here's the reaction from the fans outside Stamford Bridge:
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Chelsea may withdraw from Super League
17:54 ,
Michael Jones Dan Roan, Sports Editor at the BBC says Chelsea are preparing to withdraw from the proposed European Super League, if that happens then the whole proposal may collapse:
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Protests around Stamford Bridge
17:49 ,
Michael Jones Leeds vs Liverpool last night was the first game to be played since the announcement of a new European Super League and whilst there were a few fans outside the ground protesting it was nothing compared to the scenes at Stamford Bridge. Police estimates say that around 1,000 fans are gathered outside the ground to protest the club's inclusion in the Super League ahead of tonight's 8pm kick off with Brighton.
© Provided by The IndependentAFP via Getty Images
© Provided by The IndependentGetty Images
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Premier League clubs take a stand
17:42 ,
Michael Jones The news that a European Super League featuring the 'big six' clubs in English football, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, is to be set up has dominated the last 48-hours with players and managers alike being asked about the proposal.
Universal backlash from fans, broadcasters and ex-players followed and now the remaining 14 Premier League are taking a stand against the proposal:
© Provided by The Independent Premier League clubs to all wear protest t-shirts against Super League 'big six'
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Super League protests outside ground
17:38 ,
Alex Pattle Chelsea supporters have gathered outside Stamford Bridge to protest their club's involvement in the planned European Super League.
© Provided by The IndependentGetty Images
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Early team news
17:37 ,
Michael Jones Andreas Christensen could feature for Chelsea after missing the last three games with a muscle injury but Mateo Kovacic remains out. Thomas Tuchel mentioned some concerns over Thiago Silva's workload so the 36-yeard-old may be rested.
It's all good news for Brighton as defenders Adam Webster and Dan Burn are fit to start after being featured in the squad for the Seagull's game against Everton last time out. Aaron Connolly has recovered from a foot injury and Percy Tau could feature as well.
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Welcome!
17:32 ,
Alex Pattle Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Chelsea vs Brighton in the Premier League!