Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca does not expect last week's FA Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion to have any impact on the teams' Premier League clash on Friday.

Brighton came from behind to dump Chelsea out of the cup at the fourth-round stage last Saturday, with Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma scoring in a 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium.

The teams will reconvene on Friday for a league tussle at the same venue, with both in need of three points.

While Brighton were thumped 7-0 by Nottingham Forest in their last league fixture, Chelsea have been inconsistent recently. 

The Blues remain fourth in the table but Manchester City, Newcastle United and Bournemouth are all within three points of them.

Asked if Saturday's loss will have any bearing on Friday's match, Maresca said: "I don't think so. Different competition, different game."

The Italian felt Chelsea performed well for periods of that last meeting, despite the result.

He added: "We controlled much better the first half. In the second half, the only shots they had, we conceded a goal from.

"We tried to come here and make our game. We had a few chances at 2-1. Now we can focus on the Premier League and Conference League.

"We always try to win the games. But in the same way you have to take the consequence of the result."

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, meanwhile, was delighted by the way his players stepped up against Chelsea, one week after suffering their heaviest league defeat since August 1958 (9-0 versus Middlesbrough).

He told BBC Sport: "Great reaction. We showed character. I'm proud of how they came back. It's not easy. That's why it was well deserved.

"It was a togetherness on the pitch. It's a team performance. They bounced back, they stuck together. They didn't point fingers after losing. They took ownership."

Hurzeler also heaped praise upon Rutter, who is now the Seagulls' leading scorer in all competitions this season with seven goals. 

"Georginio Rutter is doing good. He adapted quickly to the intensity of the Premier League," Hurzeler said. "He has great skills, and he showed it again."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Brighton – Bart Verbruggen

Verbruggen scored an own goal in the FA Cup last week and has made four errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season. Only Chelsea's Robert Sanchez and Ipswich Town's Arijanet Muric have committed more, with five each.

Meanwhile, only Wolves' (15.7%) and Manchester City's (14.5%) opponents are converting their shots at a higher rate than Brighton's (13.9% - 38/273) in the Premier League this term.

Chelsea – Cole Palmer

Palmer scored four goals in the reverse fixture against Brighton earlier this season – the most goals a Chelsea player has ever scored against an opponent in a single Premier League campaign is five.

Gianluca Vialli versus Barnsley (in 1997-98), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink against Tottenham (2001-02) and Diego Costa versus Swansea City (2014-15) all achieved that feat.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHELSEA WIN

After enjoying a five-game unbeaten run against Chelsea in the Premier League (two wins, three draws), Brighton have now lost each of their last three against the Blues.

Indeed, Chelsea have lost just one of their last seven away league games against the Seagulls (four wins, two draws), though they did lose at the Amex in the FA Cup less than a week ago.

Chelsea are also on the longest current winless streak away from home in the Premier League (two draws, two losses), going four without victory since beating Tottenham 4-3 in early December.

Maresca's men averaged 2.9 goals per game across their first eight away league games of the season but have netted just 0.5 per game throughout this winless run.

Brighton, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three Premier League home games against sides starting the day in the top four (two wins, one draw), though Hurzeler's team are winless in five overall at the Amex since beating then second-placed Man City in November (two draws, three losses).

The Seagulls could lose three straight league games for the first time since March 2022 (a run of six under Graham Potter). If Chelsea can put their cup frustrations behind them, they should come away with three valuable points.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 33.8%

Chelsea – 41.1%

Draw – 25.1%