It has been a forgettable week for Chelsea, with the Blues securing only two wins in their last five matches. The challenge continues this Saturday as they host Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will be without their starting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was sent off during their loss to Manchester United. Manager Enzo Maresca faces the difficult task of balancing the need for three points at home with preparing for their Champions League fixture against Benfica on Tuesday.
Last season, when Chelsea participated in the UEFA Conference League, squad rotation decisions were simpler, as Maresca could field different teams for each competition. Now, in the Champions League, the situation is different; players are under greater strain each week. Striking a balance between defeating Brighton and looking ahead to Benfica is crucial, especially with a top-four Premier League finish as the primary goal.
How to Watch Chelsea vs. Brighton, and Match Odds
- Date: Saturday, September 27
- Time: 10:00 AM ET
- Location: Stamford Bridge, London
- Live Stream: Peacock
- Odds: Chelsea -115; Draw +270; Brighton +290
In addition to Sanchez, Chelsea will also be without Cole Palmer. The English midfielder has suffered a recurrence of his groin injury, which will sideline him for several weeks. Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, and Wesley Fofana are also out with injuries. Since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, no player has been more vital to Chelsea than Palmer, who has scored 38 goals and provided 19 assists since joining from Manchester City in the 2023-24 season.
Palmer has consistently performed in crucial matches for the Blues, making his absence an opportunity for other players to step up. Joao Pedro has quickly found his form since arriving from Brighton during the Club World Cup, and Pedro Neto`s importance to the team has also grown. Alongside a strong defense, an improved attack would be the best-case scenario for Chelsea.
Achieving a top-four finish for two consecutive seasons will be challenging, and Maresca`s squad will need to show significant improvement to build on last season`s accomplishments. Palmer cannot play every match, so how the team performs without him over the next few weeks will be a telling indicator of Chelsea`s potential ceiling.
