Brighton have been the team that everyone knows for unearthing gems across the globe. That reputation was fun at the start, but there is a ceiling to how far the club can go with the approach.
Roberto de Zerbi grew weary of working with a squad in constant evolution that shed its best talent. The job tempted Fabian Hurzeler last summer, and the youngest manager in the Premier League is doing his best to compete with England's elite. Unfortunately, key lessons are not being learned.
The German never had a watertight defence in his first year, but the lapses of the Seagulls at key moments have been decisive. They have dropped points to Tottenham and Fulham from winning positions, lost 2-1 to Bournemouth, and wasted countless chances in a 2-0 defeat at Everton.
A pair of 6-0 hammerings have booked a fourth round Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal, but there is not much to shout about for a talented team with tools in transition, but inconsistency on the field.
Chelsea are quickly learning that their strategic vision can only take them so far with Enzo Maresca.
The manager has mostly accepted whatever BlueCo has wanted behind the scenes, filing out the old blood from the dressing room in place of young talent. With a few key centrepieces, it was enough to get a position in the top four and two titles by July. But the friendly fire has caught up with the club.
Their first week with a midweek European encounter saw no victories. Brentford nabbed a 2-2 draw with a goal from Fabio Carvalho through a throw-in, then Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and co. cruised to a 3-1 win for Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. But worst of all was a 2-1 victory for Man United that saw Maresca scrap his attack after a Robert Sanchez red card on Saturday.
The 2-1 triumph over Lincoln City barely restores any confidence for a club under pressure.
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Team News
Chelsea
Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia leave Maresca short of two options at centre back and central midfield, respectively. However, both players have been to the treatment table for a long time.
Cole Palmer walked off the pitch frustrated with more issues in his groin at Old Trafford. Maresca mentioned his case is being monitored pre-Lincoln, and it might be best to rest him for next week.
Joao Pedro declared himself a fitness doubt before kickoff at Brentford. While Liam Delap remains injured with a hamstring tear, he is likely to keep running himself closer to the proverbial red zone.
Brighton
Maxim de Cuyper came off the field against Bournemouth with a knee injury a week ago. Ferdi Kadioglu came in for his first Premier League start this year against Spurs and could feature again.
Jack Hinshelwood had to get treatment after an ankle injury against the Cherries. Carlos Baleba should be back to try to recover his form with Yasin Ayari and James Milner also midfield options.
In-game, Hurzeler switched to a back three to stifle Spurs last week and could be tempted to use the shape again. If so, one would expect Diego Coppola to be in the running for more minutes.
Danny Welbeck dropped to the bench, and Brajan Gruda got a spot behind Georginio Rutter. The pair could remain, Diego Gomez may be rewarded for his four goals against Barnsley in midweek.
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Likely Line-ups
Chelsea
Sanchez; Chalobah, Fofana, Tosin, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Enzo, Garnacho; Pedro
Brighton
Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Milner; Minteh, Gruda, Mitoma; Rutter
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Key Players
Chelsea – Joao Pedro
Cole Palmer is the talismanic ten and second in command has been an inspired Samba signing.
Joao Pedro put pen to paper for a £60 million deal to leave Brighton, and he hit the ground running with goals against Fluminense and Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup. Preseason fixtures kept the scoring spree ticking along, and the Brazilian continues to impress as a flexible forward.
Best suited to a role as a second striker, he has shouldered the burden of leading the line. Against Man United, he did his utmost to relieve the pressure and ride challenges to get the ball up the pitch. He will look to strike where the Seagulls are weak at the back, knowing the opposition inside and out.
Brighton – Yankuba Minteh
Georginio Rutter is maybe the most talented attacker on the roster with his ability to drop, connect with teammates, and drive forward. But the thrust in the offence could come from Yankuba Minteh.
The stats suggest he is a primary threat to watch for. Of all players who have tried at least 10 dribbles in the Premier League, Minteh is the man with the highest success rate (13 of 20 dribbles at 65%).
A willing runner, the Gambian got his first Premier League goal of the campaign on the break against Tottenham. Some big moments in matches like this will help him to kick on further in his career.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The game will take place at the home of Chelsea, Stamford Bridge.
What time is kick-off?
The kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 BST on Saturday, 27 September 2025.
How can I watch?
Footage for viewers in the UK will not be broadcast live due to the 3pm blackout.
A full replay of the match can be seen on the official Chelsea website.
