Chelsea XI vs Brighton: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

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Evening Standard

·26 September 2025

Chelsea XI vs Brighton: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Enzo Maresca will be without several key players for the Seagulls’ visit to Stamford Bridge

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Enzo Maresca and Chelsea are in the midst of an injury crisis after Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo were ruled out until after the international break.

Palmer is being managed by the club, who are reluctant to send him for surgery despite a persistent groin injury causing him to miss plenty of game time already this season and forcing him off at Old Trafford last weekend.

Meanwhile, Tosin has a “small calf issue”, and Fofana is observing a 12-day concussion protocol after suffering symptoms of concussion in a Carabao Cup win over Lincoln, when he was clattered by goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen in the second minute but went on to complete the full match.

Josh Acheampong is back in contention and could partner Trevoh Chalobah at centre-back after returning to training on Thursday from an illness that saw him miss Lincoln.

Facundo Buonanotte scored his first Chelsea goal against Lincoln on Tuesday night but is ineligible for Saturday because opponents Brighton are his parent club.

Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are expected to return either for Brighton or for next Tuesday’s Benfica game.

Striker Liam Delap is out until December with a hamstring injury, and Dario Essugo has a thigh injury which required surgery. His return to action could come in 2026.

Levi Colwill is out for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Maresca could select Joao Pedro as a striker, use Enzo Fernandez as a No10 and Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo in defensive midfield, or could use Joao Pedro as a No10 and keep Tyrique George as an auxiliary striker.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto; George

Doubts: Badiashile, Lavia

Injured: Palmer, Colwill, Tosin, Fofana, Delap, Essugo

Ineligible: Buonanotte

Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday, September 27, 2025