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The sixth round of league matches in the Premier League this weekend are going to be headlined by some major games.
September 27, 2024
By: Davis Rothman
This weekend, the sixth round of games between the Premier League teams are to play this weekend, as two of the most in form teams in the Premier League at the moment, as Chelsea go head-to-head with Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Sep 28.
For the new Chelsea boss, Enzo Maresca, he only has five Premier League matches and a full season with Leicester City last year in the Championship’s-worth of experience as a first-team manager or as “the number one.” Prior to that, Manchester City had brought him into the football club in August of 2020 to coach their reserve team for two years, and then joined Pep Guardiola as assistant manager for the 2022/2023 campaign.
The last time these two sides were in action against one another was back in May, Chelsea went away to Brighton, and took the three points from the match as they would win it by a score of 2-1.
Looking ahead to the match on Saturday, Chelsea will hope to continue their current run of positive form they have been on this season, after losing only just one game so far this season which was the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening day of the season.
With Reece James being the only senior team player out with injury, Maresca will have a fully-fit first team squad at his disposal to work with, but a few players that have recently returned from injury could potentially make a few changes from the team that started in the 3-0 win away against West Ham. Which gives Chelsea depth across all areas of the pitch.
Malo Gusto, deemed fully fit, is likely to return to right back. And this would see Wesley Fofana, who played the position against West Ham return back to his natural position at center-back, where he would most likely play alongside Levi Colwill. But with the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Diasi, and Benoit Badiashile all being alternative options in that position, there are many alternative pairings that could be fielded in that partnership at the heart of Chelsea’s defense in front of their first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Enzo Fernandez seems to have found his best position in the team, as a midfielder in a pairing-up with Moises Caicedo, both of whom started together in the match against West Ham last week.
Jadon Sancho received his first league start for Chelsea against West Ham, since he joined the club from Manchester United at the end of this past transfer window. However, Pedro Neto who also joined the club in the summer, but prior to Sancho, has started two of Chelsea’s first five league games. And it could very well be at the toss of a coin for Maresca to decide who starts between these two players against Brighton.
Along with the 2023/2024 Young Player of the Year Winner, in-form Cole Palmer and forward Nicolas Jackson, who is one of the in form forwards in the league at the moment, they have a wealth of options who can play in most to all of the attacking roles in the team as they can play in more than one place. The likes of Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and Carney Chukwuemeka as options to play in the creative midfielder role. Mykhailo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke join Neto and Sancho as options for the wide attacking roles. And forward Marc Guiu serves as a young understudy and backup with great potential to Nicolas Jackson.
As for an unbeaten Brighton side under their new manager Fabian Hürzeler will be present on the touchline, after having been sent off to the stands in their match last weekend, but having the suspension repealed with a successful appeal to the Football Association from Brighton’s behalf.
With the injuries starting to stack up for the Seagulls, there may be changes made to the team that started in their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest last week.
Defender Pervis Estupiñán, returned to Premier League action and made his first league start of the season last week, after having been injured for all season to where he was not deemed fit enough to be starting. However, summer signing Ferdi Kadıoğlu from Turkish side Fenerbahce provides quality depth and competition to his position. And a change could potentially be seen in this position, as a way to manage the minutes of Estupiñán who just returned to starting action, but got subbed off with 10 minutes left of the match.
Right-back Jack Hinshelwood, who both scored in last week’s match against Forest and had a breakout season last year, has found himself in a new midfield role in a double-pivot, recently alongside Carlos Baleba. However, it could also very well be summer signing Mats Weiffer who could play in that midfield pairing as well for either of them. Or could potentially move back into his more recognizable right-back position
Wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra will be ones to watch and look out for, as they will do what they have been doing since they were both brought to the club. Which is to provide a dangerous threat, outlet, and width from both flanks. And both are widely expected to start in this weekend’s matchup against Chelsea as well.
Forward Joao Pedro, who came off the bench against Forest and already having been enjoying a great start to the season, may be ruled from taking part in the match after having picked up a knee injury in the last week. However, the in form Danny Welbeck, Evan Ferguson, and summer signing Georginio Rutter all provide cover in depth for the striker position.
Going into the match, Chelsea sit in fifth place in the league table with 10 points, just one off of the Top 4 positions, behind fourth-placed Arsenal with 11. They will be looking to get a result in a difficult fixture, against a team who in years gone by was considered one of their “bogey teams,” maintain their red-hot form in the league, and put the pressure on Arsenal to win their match in order for them to remain in fourth.
And as for Brighton, they find themselves in seventh place with nine points, just one point behind Newcastle in sixth. Brighton will look to continue their unbeaten run in the league this season, and stay on course for their ultimate goal of finishing in a league position that would seal them qualification back into the European Cup competitions that they took part in last season.
But what will happen in this clash of these two Premier League sides? Will Chelsea continue their terrific run of form in the league? Or will Brighton prevail, and maintain their unbeaten streak from the start of the season?
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