Chelsea look to maintain their top-four push in a Premier League clash at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
If Bournemouth and Crystal Palace both fail to win elsewhere, victory would see Chelsea climb to second for at least a few hours.
Depending on results elsewhere, Brighton could go as high as ninth with a win.
Team News
Cole Palmer is ruled out for Chelsea after he missed their comeback Carabao Cup victory at Lincoln City due to a groin injury.
Tosin Adarabioyo missed that game with a calf injury and won’t feature before October’s international break, whilst Wesley Fofana is sidelined in line with concussion protocols.
Facundo Buonanotte is ineligible to feature in this game due to domestic loan rules, but Robert Sanchez is back from suspension to face his former team.
Marc Guiu (knock) and Joshua Acheampong (illness) could be available subject to fitness checks.
Benoit Badiashile (unspecified) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) face late fitness checks, but Levi Colwill (ACL), Dario Essugo (thigh), Liam Delap (hamstring) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
Brighton could welcome Maxime De Cuyper back from a knee injury which saw him sit out their last two matches as a precaution.
Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), Solly March and Adam Webster (both knee) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 27 September at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have won just three of their last nine meetings against Brighton (W3, D3, L3).
- Brighton have won one of their last five league visits to Chelsea (W1, D2, L2).
- In their two previous meetings across all competitions in 2025, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma scored in both meetings as the Seagulls won 2-1 in FA Cup and 3-0 in top flight – albeit at home on both occasions.
- Chelsea are yet to concede at home this season (W1, D1).
- Jan Paul van Hecke has played more successful long passes than any other Brighton player in the top flight this season (24).
Prediction
Having produced a sloppy first-half display with a defence which failed to spark quickly into life, Chelsea were lucky to even still be in the match against Lincoln City but two clinical quick-fire moments prevented embarrassment early in the second half amidst a raft of changes.
I however do expect some more rotation here but if Chelsea start this game like they did at Sincil Bank, they might not be as lucky if Brighton turn up with their goalscoring boots firmly polished.
Brighton meanwhile might be disappointed with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in their last league match but they absolutely battered Barnsley 6-0 in midweek, so will come to Stamford Bridge full of renewed belief especially as the Blues have struggled defensively since returning from the international break.
Nevertheless this clash is shaping up to be a strong scrap given Chelsea’s injury crisis but if Brighton can score first and target the hosts’ fragile defence, I can see them pulling off a win but it will be close throughout.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Brighton
Result: Chelsea 1-3 Brighton
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