Over the summer, many questioned both Brighton and Chelsea, with the Seagulls losing the ever-dependable Pascal Groß and appointing the Premier League’s youngest-ever manager, while the Blues continued their haphazard spending under the new leadership of Enzo Maresca.
However, after five games, both teams have emphatically proven doubters wrong, delivering impressive performances that leave them just a point apart towards the top end of the table.
Despite being winless in their last three league matches, including a fiery 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest in their most recent outing, Brighton are undefeated thus far under Fabian Hürzeler.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have secured back-to-back clean sheets on the road, and their plethora of attacking options have all proven themselves more than deserving of a place in the starting line-up.
This weekend, the two sides will clash at Stamford Bridge, with the Albion looking to avenge the three narrow defeats the West London club inflicted upon them last season.
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Team News
Reece James remains unavailable as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury he sustained at the beginning of August.
However, Malo Gusto's welcome return in the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Barrow could see him start at right-back, easing the burden on Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana, who have been forced to deputise on the right in recent weeks.
Despite being substituted just before the hour mark in last week’s win over West Ham, Maresca has confirmed that Fofana is not carrying any injury, and the French centre-back is expected to start alongside Levi Colwill this weekend.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia is a doubt due to a hamstring issue, but regular starters Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are both available.
Meanwhile, Maresca has an embarrassment of riches up front, with Christopher Nkunku, having scored six goals in his last eight appearances, expected to miss out to Nicolas Jackson, who has also started the season in stellar form.
Regarding the injury, Hürzeler said: "I'm not sure how long he will be out.
"I think that he is a good healer and I'm convinced that he will be back soon. But we can't take any risk."
The Brazilian joins summer signing Matt O’Riley (ankle) on the sidelines along with Solly March (knee), who is nearing a return after close to a year out, and James Milner (thigh).
In Pedro's absence, club-record signing Georginio Rutter is set to continue in the advanced role behind Danny Welbeck.
After missing last weekend through illness, Yasin Ayari is available, while Brajan Gruda could return to the matchday squad after an unspecified injury to make his Brighton debut.
The two big questions regarding selection are whether Mats Wieffer will replace Jack Hinshelwood or Carlos Baleba in midfield and who, out of Yankuba Minteh and Simon Adingra, starts on the right flank.
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Likely line-ups
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, van Hecke, Estupiñán; Hinshelwood, Wieffer; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
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Key Players
Chelsea - Nicholas Jackson
Despite scoring 17 goals in his debut season for Chelsea, many questioned Jackson’s ability to lead the line going forward, and it appeared Maresca agreed, with rumours circulating during the summer that the former Leicester City coach was in the market for a striker.
However, the Senegalese frontman has proven to his new coach that he is more than capable of spearheading the attack, having scored four goals and assisted a further two in the opening five games.
Jackson’s exceptional goalscoring ability was on full display last weekend against the Hammers, with the 23-year-old surging into space on the wing and calmly slotting the ball through Alphonse Areola’s legs before making a brilliant run behind Julen Lopetegui’s back three to finish in style once again.
With Hürzeler generally opting to put players forward and play a high line when his team is in possession, there will be ample opportunity for Jackson to exploit space in behind again and create chaos for the Brighton defence.
Brighton - Jack Hinshelwood
Before the Tricky Trees visited The Amex last weekend, Hinshelwood had started every game this season at full-back.
However, with an abundance of injuries in midfield, Hürzeler was forced to deploy the club’s most promising youth academy product in midfield alongside Baleba.
The lifelong Brighton fan did not disappoint in this more advanced role, rising highest in the box to send a powerful header beyond the reach of Matz Sels’ outstretched arm.
While the attacking side of his game made headlines against Forest, Hinshelwood’s natural defensive instincts make him crucial to the Seagulls’ attempt to continue their unbeaten start to the season at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer will undoubtedly be relentless in his pursuit to exploit Brighton’s high defensive line by unleashing Jackson and Noni Madueke with precise through balls, and Hinshelwood must seamlessly translate his defensive abilities into a midfield role if he is to halt the Chelsea star and rescue his defenders from a torrid afternoon.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
Chelsea and Brighton will clash at Stamford Bridge, the Blues’ home ground in West London.
What time is kick-off?
The game will commence at 15:00 BST on Saturday 28 September, at the same time as four other Premier League fixtures.
How can I watch?
Unfortunately, for supporters of both teams and neutrals eager to witness a thrilling match, the only way to watch the game live is by having a ticket to Stamford Bridge.
However, highlights will be available shortly after the final whistle on Sky Sports' YouTube channel, and on Match of the Day on BBC One at 22:30.
