Chelsea will be out to continue their fine beginning to the Enzo Maresca era as they welcome Brighton to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this afternoon. Despite another eventful summer the Blues have picked up from where they left off at the end of the short-lived Mauricio Pochettino reign, winning three of their first five top-flight matches of the season to go into the weekend sitting fifth and only three points off top spot.
Consecutive wins over Bournemouth and West Ham were followed by a Carabao Cup thrashing of League Two leaders Barrow in midweek, in which Maresca was able to utilise his large squad and make wholesale changes to keep key players fresh. Today they welcome a Brighton team to west London who came flying out of the blocks under new boss Fabian Hurzeler and remain unbeaten this term, but have just seen their progress slowed somewhat by a run of three consecutive draws before a narrow cup win over Wolves.
The absence of Joao Pedro is a real blow for the Seagulls, who were beaten three times by Chelsea last season and have won just one of their last 11 away games against them. Follow Chelsea vs Brighton live below!
Chelsea vs Brighton latest news
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GOAL! Palmer adds FOURTH goal of first half
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GOAL! Second Sanchez howler gifts Brighton a second
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GOAL! Palmer completes stunning 10-minute hat-trick
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GOAL! Palmer makes no mistake from penalty spot
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GOAL! Palmer equalises at third time of asking
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GOAL! Sanchez howler sees Rutter head home
Chelsea 4-2 Brighton
15:46 , Peter Fitzpatrick
44min: A strong save from Sanchez to stop Welbeck making it 4-3 before the break.
What a game.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:45 , Peter Fitzpatrick
If you’re one of those dinosaurs who thinks Pep Guardiola’s ruined football by making defenders think they’re Johan Cruyff you’re having a field day here. The number of chances at both ends that have come from one team being caught on it in their own final third is bonkers.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-2 Brighton | Cole Palmer 41′
15:44 , Peter Fitzpatrick
41min: What can you say? Palmer gets his and Chelsea’s fourth.
Brighton, again, are the architects of their own downfall, Verbruggen passing it to Fernandez.
Sancho then picked out Palmer with a nice ball down the left, and the finish was deadly.
15:39 , Peter Fitzpatrick
38min: It could be 3-3 or 4-2, with both sides making chances aplenty.
A frankly ridiculous game we’re witnessing here.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:38
The Brighton fans respond to Chelsea’s “Palmer again Ole”, with a chorus of “Sanchez again Ole”
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:37 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Fair play to Robert Sanchez, he’s keeping his old team in this. Another absolute clanger from the Chelsea goalkeeper and the momentum swings again.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-2 Brighton | Carlos Baleba 34′
15:36 , Peter Fitzpatrick
34min: Another disaster for Sanchez. He passed the ball straight to Brighton, and Carlos Baleba slotted home.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:33 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Woof. Absolutely devastating from Cole Palmer. A ten-minute hat-trick.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Brighton | Cole Palmer 30′
15:33 , Peter Fitzpatrick
30min: Amazing! Palmer completes a 10 minute hat-trick with a simply stunning free-kick from all of 25 yards out.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:31 , Peter Fitzpatrick
What a remarkable turnaround here. Not even in terms of the goals so much, but the flow of the game. But having looked rattled early on, Chelsea now look like they’ll score with every attack. Brighton playing themselves into trouble time and again.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Brighton | Cole Palmer 28′
15:30 , Peter Fitzpatrick
28min: Palmer does what he does, sending Verbruggen the wrong way to put the Blues in front.
This game has completely turned on its head.
PENALTY! Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
15:29 , Peter Fitzpatrick
27min: Sancho plays a lovely one-two with Fernandez, before being taken down by Carles Baleba for the spot kick.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:27 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Well it’s taken 20 minutes but Chelsea appear to have sussed that Brighton’s high line is suicide. There’s so much pace in the Blues attack that they are getting in at will.
OFFSIDE! Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
15:27 , Peter Fitzpatrick
24min: Jadon Sancho is denied his first Chelsea goal as Noni Madueke was ruled offside in the build up.
This is non-stop.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:25 , Peter Fitzpatrick
An eventful few minutes for Cole Palmer, but he has Chelsea level. Jackson almost made a right meal of that but he dallied so long that Palmer had time to catch up and slot home.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Brighton | Cole Palmer 21′
15:25 , Peter Fitzpatrick
22min: At the third time of asking, Palmer gets his goal. Adam Webster had a moment to forget, losing the ball to Nicolas Jackson.
The striker ran through and squared it to Palmer, who coolly slotted home.
OFFSIDE! Chelsea 0-1 Brighton
15:22 , Peter Fitzpatrick
20min: Brighton’s high line allowed Palmer in again, and this time he made no mistake. However, he was offside.
Chelsea 0-1 Brighton
15:21 , Peter Fitzpatrick
19min: It should be 1-1! Enzo Fernandez played a brilliant ball through to Cole Palmer, whose chipped finish clipped the post.
Chelsea 0-1 Brighton
15:19 , Peter Fitzpatrick
16min: After playing a big role in Brighton’s first goal, Sanchez stops them from getting a second.
Danny Welbeck’s cross hit off Levi Colwill, but the Spanish keeper was there with a strong hand to keep his side in it.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:17
This is the first time Chelsea have trailed in a game since the opening day of the season. They look a bit rattled at the moment and Brighton are on top.
Chelsea 0-1 Brighton
15:16 , Peter Fitzpatrick
13min: Chelsea look very nervy here, and Brighton can probably sense a second.
Marc Cucurella did well to head away Pervis Estupuninan’s with Rutter coming in behind.
15:14 , Peter Fitzpatrick
12min: Sancho has looked promising so far, and got down the left-hand side before putting a dangerous cross in that was just too close to Bart Verbruggen
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:13
Robert Sanchez’s has been brilliant the last few weeks for Chelsea, but what on earth is he doing there? He’s come flying out and got nowhere near it. A brave header from Rutter and Brighton lead.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Brighton | Georginio Rutter
15:12 , Peter Fitzpatrick
7min: Brighton take the lead and it’s an absolute shocker from Chelsea.
First, Caicedo and Colwill made a mess of clearing the ball, and then Robert Sanchez came and got nothing, as Georginio Rutter headed in his first goal for the Seagulls.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:07 , Peter Fitzpatrick
4min: Jadon Sancho has the game’s first opening, after Moises Caicedo nicked the ball off Brighton as they tried to play out.
The ball came to Sancho, who saw his shot blocked by some last-ditch defending.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:05 , Peter Fitzpatrick
2min: Just 90 seconds in, and it looks as if Malo Gusto needs a change of boots.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
15:03 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Boos for Robert Sanchez’s first touch. Then a bit of abuse for Marc Cucurella. Could be a busy afternoon for the away end if they keep this up – just the four former Brighton players in Chelsea’s XI.
KICK-OFF!
15:00 , Peter Fitzpatrick
We’re up and running at Stamford Bridge!
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
14:52
A Chelsea victory here would see them go within a point of Manchester City heading into October. You suspect Enzo Maresca would have taken that when they lost 2-0 to the champions here on the opening day.
In case you missed it, a Rodri-less City were held to a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in the early kick-off.
Hurzeler provides injury update
14:47
The Brighton boss has confirmed Joel Veltman is sick, having come to training yesterday with a problem, while Jan Paul van Hecke has “some muscle issues.”
Rutter speaks ahead of the game
14:30 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Georginio Rutter is feeling confident despite Brighton’s three-game winless streak.
It’s hardly surprising given the Seagulls are one of just four sides still unbeaten in the league.
Maresca bullish about aspirations
14:25 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Speaking in the matchday programme, the Chelsea boss was adamant the age of his squad is not an excuse for underperformance.
“We showed how serious we are. I said to the players that even though we have the youngest squad in the Premier League, they always have to show they want to compete. We are young, yes, but we are men.”
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
14:16 , Peter Fitzpatrick
There’ll be more than a couple of Chelsea players feeling hard done by not to get a crack in the starting XI today after their performances against Barrow in midweek. But spare a thought for the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Benoit Badiashile, who’ve not even made the bench.
Brighton to wear black armbands
14:04 , Peter Fitzpatrick
The Seagulls will honour their former manager, Barry Lloyd, who has sadly passed away at the age of 75.
Lloyd managed the club from 1987 to 1993, leading them to promotion from the third tier and almost to the top flight, and later became chief scout.
He also made 10 appearances for Chelsea between 1966 and 1968.
Team news in full
13:55 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Disase, Tosin, Veiga, Lavia, Neto, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku
Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Wieffer, Baleba; Hinshelwood, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Igor, Enciso, Moder, Minteh, Ayari, Samuels, Ferguson
Brighton XI
13:47 , Peter Fitzpatrick
And the Seagulls!
Chelsea XI
13:45 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Here’s how the Blues line up!
Team news coming soon
13:37 , Peter Fitzpatrick
We should have the lineups in the next five minutes or so.
Jackson looking to continue his hot streak
13:35 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Nicolas Jackson has taken a lot of stick since his move to the Blues last summer, but he is silencing his critics by the week.
In his last 13 league games, he has 13 goal involvements (9 goals, 4 assists), one more than he managed in his first 27 (9 goals, 3 assists).
Will he make 14 (or more) from 14 today?
Brighton’s day to remember at the Bridge
13:19 , Peter Fitzpatrick
It might feel much longer ago given Frank Lampard was in interim charge of Chelsea, but it was only in April of last year when Brighton won for the first time at Stamford Bridge.
And what a way to do it.
Hurzeler praises Chelsea keeper Sanchez
13:05 , Peter Fitzpatrick
Chelsea’s other former Brighton star, Robert Sanchez, has the deepest connection with the Seagulls, having joined them as a 15 year old.
His old club’s current boss Fabian Huerzeler pinpointed the Spanish keeper when asked about how he plans to stop Chelsea.
“Of course you have to analyse them by what they’re doing tactically on the pitch and they have very good solutions.”
“They have a great goalkeeper who starts trying to build up the game from the back, always with this pressure.”
“He’s a very good footballer player and then of course they have good positioning in possession, they are very fluent.”
Maresca makes honest admission over ex-Brighton stars
12:56 , Peter Fitzpatrick
It is likely that three ex-Brighton players, and four if you include former loanee Levi Colwill, will start for Chelsea today.
Enzo Maresca spoke on two of them, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella, both of whom have started every Premier League game this season.
The Italian head coach “absolutely” wants to see more from Caicedo, saying: “In this moment for us, he’s a very important player, he’s doing well, especially off the ball. But he can do much, much, much better on the ball and be more brave, breaking lines.
“He is doing very well, but he can be even better on the ball.”
On Cucurella, who left Brighton in 2022 after just one season on the south coast, Maresca was full of praise.
“Marc is a very intelligent player,” Against Bournemouth he played like an attacking midfielder, against West Ham he played like a holding midfielder.”
“He is a versatile player and gives us different options. I don’t think the price should be a problem. Sometimes it can put them under pressure and it can be a big problem.”
Chelsea vs Brighton prediction
12:45 , George Flood
This is a big test of Chelsea’s progress, given Brighton are unbeaten thus far this season.
The Seagulls would bite your hand off for a point now, but are capable of more.
Enzo Maresca knows that keeping a clean sheet will be key in a fixture which has usually thrown up a few goals.
Draw, 1-1.
Brighton team news
12:43 , George Flood
Brighton are missing key striker Joao Pedro this afternoon after the Brazilian was hurt after coming on in the 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Summer signing Matt O’Riley is still sidelined, along with James Milner and Solly March.
However, £25m arrival Brajan Gruda could be in line for a Seagulls debut having shaken off an unspecified issue.
Chelsea team news
12:40 , George Flood
Chelsea are set to welcome back Romeo Lavia this afternoon after Enzo Maresca declared the injury-plagued Belgian midfielder fit to return following a hamstring injury.
However, captain Reece James remains sidelined with his latest hamstring complaint and is the Blues’ only known absentee as things stand other than teenage midfielder Omari Kellyman.
Malo Gusto returned from injury with 45 minutes against Barrow, a game in which Maresca made wholesale changes and utilised his large squad in order to keep key players fresh.
How to watch Chelsea vs Brighton
12:32 , George Flood
TV channel and live stream: Today’s game will not be broadcast live in the UK as it takes place during the 3pm Saturday afternoon blackout still imposed across English football.
Free highlights: Match of the Day will show highlights when it airs at 10.30pm on BBC One tonight.
Chelsea vs Brighton live
12:30 , George Flood
Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Chelsea vs Brighton in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca will be seeking his first home top-flight win in charge of the Blues today to continue the feel-good factor after a promising start to another new era in west London that continued with last weekend’s easy win at West Ham and the midweek Carabao Cup thrashing of fourth-tier Barrow.
They could be in for a tough test against unbeaten Brighton, who look a force to be reckoned with again under new boss Fabian Hurzeler though had been held to three successive draws before edging out Wolves in the cup on Wednesday.
Kick-off today is at 3pm BST, so stay tuned for all the latest team news, match build-up and live updates, including expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge.
