Chelsea v Brighton LIVE: Emi Martinez could make debut as Enzo Fernandez set to be left out of Premier League clash | OneFootball

Chelsea will look to build on a strong start as they host Brighton in the Premier League in Xabi Alonso’s first league game in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues caught the eye in their 3-2 win over Fulham in their opening game, with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro particularly impressive as the Alonso era got off to an encouraging start. It has raised hopes that a title challenge may not be out of the question – particularly with Emiliano Martinez brought in from Aston Villa and perhaps in line to solve Chelsea’s goalkeeping woes. His Argentina teammate Enzo Fernandez is expected to be left out today, though, with Manchester City keen on the World Cup winner.

A tough test is never far away in the top flight, though, and Chelsea’s first home game is against a Brighton side who dismantled Aston Villa in a 4-0 win in their opener. A midweek Conference League play-off success has further buoyed morale for the south-coast club – can they claim a significant success at Stamford Bridge this afternoon?

Brighton team to face Chelsea

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Gross, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Wieffer, De Cuyper, Yalcouye, Vuskovic

Mike Jones30 August 2026 12:46

Team news soon

The official line-ups will be dropping shortly so we’ll find out who starts for both teams and likely whether Emi Martinez was registered in time to play on Friday.

Line-ups are dropping next...

Chelsea's first game

Xabi Alonso’s Premier League debut as a manager got off to the perfect start as Chelsea defeated Fulham 3-2 in their first league game of the season.

But, it wasn’t as easy as it may look on the scoresheet.

Joao Pedro sent Chelsea into the lead in the first minute before an equaliser from Josh King pulled the Cottagers level.

Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer then created some daylight for the Blues either side of half-time but a goal from Gonzalo Garcia kept the match alive until the full-time whistle.

Chelsea’s opening win was then quickly followed by a 2-0 victory over Luton Town in the Carabao Cup and Alonso’s perfect start continues.

Will he lead Chelsea to victory over Brighton today as well?

(Reuters)

Mike Jones30 August 2026 12:32

Martinez gives thoughts on signing for Chelsea

Emi Martinez has completed his move from Aston Villa to Chelsea though he will not feature today. That is because the Argentina goalkeeper was not registered in time for this afternoon’s clash with Brighton.

Still, that hasn’t stopped him from speaking out about his move.

“I’m delighted to be at this football club,” he said. “Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon - I can’t wait to get started.

“I want to be successful here. I'm someone who wants to win at everything I do and I want to bring that here to this football club because it’s a football club that wins titles, so I think it’s a good match.

“I’m all passion and I play with my heart. I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud.”

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez looks to be on his way to Chelsea (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

Fabian Hurzeler hopes Danny Welbeck has a day off against former club

Fabian Hurzeler expressed gratitude for his time working with Danny Welbeck but hopes the veteran Chelsea striker has a day off when he faces former club Brighton for the first time.

The 35-year-old scored 51 goals in 201 appearances in all competitions for Albion between 2020 and this summer’s somewhat surprising move to Stamford Bridge.

Welbeck scored his first Chelsea goal in the midweek Carabao Cup win against Luton at Stamford Bridge, where Brighton head on Sunday looking to follow-up their impressive opening weekend win against Aston Villa.

“Great personality, great player,” Albion boss Hurzeler said. “We had a really, really good relationship and, like I always said, I was really grateful working with him because he helped me a lot.

“He helped me on the pitch, he helped me beside the pitch and therefore I think being grateful in football is not the norm. You don’t have these kind of words a lot in football but I’m definitely grateful for working with him.

“On Sunday he can take a break and then afterwards I wish him all the best again.”

Fabian Hurzeler enjoyed working with Danny Welbeck (Getty)

Follow the latest transfer news LIVE

Plenty happening, then, with just a couple of days to go in the summer transfer window. You can follow all of the latest twists and turns throughout the final flourish right here:

Transfers LIVE: Gakpo chooses City, Atletico give Alvarez deadline, Barcola medical

Liverpool still want to sign another winger after agreeing a £100m fee, with £20m in add-ons, for top transfer target Bradley Barcola

Harry Latham-Coyle30 August 2026 11:50

Chelsea complete surprise signing of Emiliano Martinez as World Cup winner finally gets his move

Enzo Fernandez may yet be on his way out of Chelsea, but a fellow World Cup winner has come in – Emiliano Martinez should solve the goalkeeping question for Xabi Alonso. Good business?

Chelsea complete surprise signing of Martinez as World Cup winner finally gets move

Comes after criticism of Chelsea’s current number one Robert Sanchez

Harry Latham-Coyle30 August 2026 11:40

Inside the Premier League’s wild spending spree: ‘£100m is the new baseline’

It’s been a pretty mad transfer summer, all told, with the Premier League appearing to operate in a market all of its own. Miguel Delaney examines the spending spree:

Inside the Premier League’s wild spending spree: ‘£100m is the new baseline’

Premier League inflation has outstripped football inflation, as well as real-world inflation, but at what cost, asks Miguel Delaney in his latest Inside Football newsletter

Harry Latham-Coyle30 August 2026 11:30