Chelsea are aiming to end their two-game winless Premier League run when they host Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon, and they must find a way to cope without Cole Palmer while their star man continues to manage a persistent groin injury.
The England star was forced off in the first half against Manchester United last weekend and has been ruled out until after the upcoming international break. In his absence, Enzo Maresca could select Joao Pedro as a striker, use Enzo Fernandez as a No10 and Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo in defensive midfield.
Softfootball reported that the Blues edged past League One Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup midweek to recover from back-to-back defeats, but the Italian was far from pleased with the performance of his much-changed team. He will be expecting an improved display today and certainly better than he witnessed in Chelsea’s last two meetings with the Seagulls.
The positive news for Chelsea is that Brighton have lost both of their Premier League away matches this season. The bad news is the Seagulls are in confident mood after firing six unanswered goals past Barnsley midweek, and they have also taken points off Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur already this term.
Tosin Adarabioyo will also make his comeback after the upcoming international period after injuring his calf, while Wesley Fofana will miss the Brighton clash after suffering a concussion midweek. The centre back duo join Levi Colwill, Liam Delap and Dário Essugo on the sidelines.
Roméo Lavia could make his comeback against Brighton having been absent since the FIFA Club World Cup, while Marc Guiu and Josh Acheampong should be available after missing the Lincoln win with injury and illness respectively.
Facundo Buonanotte is ineligible to face his parent club and Brighton will face former players in João Pedro, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sánchez and Moisés Caicedo this afternoon.
Chelsea Confirmed XI as seen on the club official X handle: Sanchez, James (C), Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Caicedo, Estevao, Enzo, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, Badiashile, Lavia, Gittens, Garnacho, George, Guiu
Hurzeler has confirmed that Brighton will have Mats Wieffer and Maxim De Cuyper available once again, while Yankuba Minteh and Brajan Gruda have been passed fit despite suffering small injury issues in recent days.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March and Adam Webster are all unavailable, but the midweek demolition of Barnsley did offer Hürzeler the opportunity to rest key names ahead of the journey to London.
Diego Gómez has almost certainly played his way into the starting lineup after his astonishing four-goal haul against Barnsley, which included two stunners from range. He could feature in an attacking midfield role.
Brighton Confirmed XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Georginio, Minteh, Baleba, Mitoma, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, Welman
Subs: Steele, Gruda, Tzimas, Welbeck, Milner, Wieffer, De Cuyper, Boscagli, Copolla
