Date: Sunday 3rd December, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm
Stadium Stamford Bridge
Referee Craig Pawson (England)
Goal Scorer:
Chelsea
Only a few moments after James's dismissal at St James' Park, his fellow full-back Marc Cucurella picked up a milestone fifth yellow card of the campaign, denying the former Brighton man a reunion with his old employers as he also serves a one-game ban.
With two enforced defensive changes required, Pochettino will be desperate to have Malo Gusto back in the fold following a tendon injury - the Frenchman's chances of playing are thought to be slim, though - while Levi Colwill should get the nod over Ian Maatsen in place of Cucurella.
Wesley Fofana (knee), Lavia (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) and Ben Chilwell (thigh) are all set to miss out again, although Romeo Lavia (ankle) and Christopher Nkunku (knee) are closing in on belated competitive debuts, while a midfield recall awaits Moises Caicedo - another former Seagull - after he started on the bench against Newcastle.
De Zerbi and Pochettino can empathise over losing their captains to suspension, as Lewis Dunk received two yellow cards within a matter of seconds against Nottingham Forest for inexcusably using some choice words towards referee Anthony Taylor, incurring a two-game ban in the process.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Brighton
Dunk joins Mahmoud Dahoud on the naughty step for the Chelsea clash as the midfielder serves the second of a three-game domestic suspension for his red card against Sheffield United, and given the visitors' perpetual injury crisis, 18-year-old Jack Hinshelwood may be required to step in at centre-back as James Milner deputises in a full-back role.
The luckless Seagulls lost both Tariq Lamptey and Ansu Fati to long-term thigh injuries against Nottingham Forest too, as the pair join Pervis Estupinan (thigh), Adam Webster (knock), Solly March (knee), Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso - last season's match-winner at Stamford Bridge - in the infirmary.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Hinshelwood, Igor, Milner; Gilmour, Gross; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
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