This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their Premier League tie with Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues are reeling after poor results to Brentford, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, even a midweek win over Lincoln City was uninspired. They take on a wildly inconsistent Seagulls unit who have beaten top teams and lost to relegation fodder, the unpredictability could add to Enzo Maresca’s woes if they see the best of their opposition.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Brighton for Premier League Tie
How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently
Robert Sanches usually starts in goal, his suspension offered a chance for Filip Jorgensen to impress, but the Dane did anything but and should lose his spot right back to the former Brighton man. The back line has featured a lot of changes due to rotation, fitness, and poor form. The centre-back pairing of Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo was a failure, with Wesley Fofana now coming in to provide some stability.
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Fofana has also played at right back where Malo Gusto appears to be first-choice with Reece James coming in occasionally. Marc Cucurella is the left-back starter with Jorrel Hato as rotation to offer another profile.
The defensive midfield pivot of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez is the most regular one. James partnered Caicedo against Bayern and Santos partnered Enzo in midweek as shakeups. The Argentine played a lot of minutes against Lincoln so we could see a different partnership this time out.
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Another area with chopping and changing has been the trio behind the striker. Joao Pedro is the most natural Cole Palmer replacement in the ten spot, but Facundo Buonanotte has played there, as has Enzo. Jamie Gittens, Estevao, and Pedro Neto are all competing for the other spots on the wing, where Palmer has also started once.
It’s the striker spot with the least amount of options and very little rotation. The injury to Delap has forced Pedro to play there with Tyrique George offering him some rest by playing up front when needed.
Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics
Maresca sets up in a 4-2-3-1 base but the formation shifts depending on personnel and game state. In the EFL Cup he went a bit old-school and had his left-back invert into the double pivot while one of the pivot pushed up alongside Buonanotte. He hasn’t used that idea as much this term, instead focusing on a diamond midfield instead of a box with the full-backs moving into different spaces to offer options while one DM sits deep.
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With just three wins this season their form has been all over the place. Draws with the Bees and Crystal Palace might age well while the loss to Manchester United certainly will not. The Bavarians predictably beat the Blues in the Champions League but a lack of European experience meant that was always an uphill battle. In a campaign full of inconsistency, Maresca’s men are just two points behind second-placed Arsenal, there’s still time to get momentum going.
Chelsea Injuries to Consider
According to PremierInjuries there are a number of absences to deal with. Palmer went off against United and is now set to be rested until after the international break in October. Levi Colwill is a long-term absentee, as is Delap and Dario Essugo. Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended indefinitely while Facundo Buonanotte isn’t eligible to face his parent club.
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The manager, during his press conference, confirmed that Tosin is now dealing with a problem and Fofana is sidelined with concussion protocols. Marc Guiu and Josh Achampong weren’t in the recent squad due to minor issues and both Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are nearing fitness but likely won’t be risked from the start.
By our count, that means Maresca could be without as many as 10 different players for this one, although Acheampong was sick and might be ready to go which would ease the emerging crisis at the heart of the back line.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Brighton & Hove Albion
GK – Robert Sanchez
LB – Marc Cucurella
CB – Trevoh Chalobah
CB – Josh Acheampong
RB – Malo Gusto
DM – Reece James
DM – Moises Caicedo
AM – Enzo Fernandez
W – Estevao
W – Pedro Neto
ST – Joao Pedro
