Enzo Maresca has made no secret of the fact that he considers Chelsea’s recent performances sub-par, but his selection for the match will be complicated by injuries and a looming midweek Champions League match against Benfica.
Brighton will be high on confidence after beating Barnsley 6-0 in the Carabao Cup. Summer signing Diego Gomez scored four remarkable goals in the match and will likely return to the squad this weekend.
This fixture has become an unlikely rivalry in recent years after Chelsea made a habit of poaching players and staff from the Seagulls, meaning bragging rights are once again up for grabs.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Chelsea vs Brighton is scheduled for a 3pm BST kick-off on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
The match will take place at Stamford Bridge.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Brighton
TV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised live as it lands during the 3pm Saturday blackout.
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights from 5.15pm with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 22.30pm.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.
Chelsea vs Brighton team news
Maresca will be without some important faces in this match. Cole Palmer is a doubt as he carries a niggling groin injury, while Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile, Dario Esugo, and Romeo Lavia are long-term absentees.
Chelsea loanee Facundo Buonanotte will be unable to feature in the match as he is ineligible to face his parent club.
Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo, and Marc Cucurella are all expected to line up opposite their former club, though.
Robert Sanchez, another former Seagull, is available for the match having served his suspension for being sent off against Man United. He will likely reclaim his starting spot after Filip Jorgensen’s calamitous performance against Lincoln.
Maresca is expected to name close to a full-strength squad, though he will be considering Tuesday’s Benfica clash, which could mean the likes of Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez are rested.
Jack Hinshelwood and Solly March are both expected to miss out for Brighton through injury, as is Adam Webster. Maxim De Cuyper is recovering well from his knee injury, though, and has a chance at being involved.
Chelsea vs Brighton prediction
Brighton are something of a bogey for Chelsea in recent seasons, going so far as to beat them twice in one week last season.
Chelsea are in dire need of a win as they endure a difficult spell. Maresca has the cards stacked against him as he deals with an injury-riddled squad and a tight calendar, and he is yet to prove his ability to deal with such crises.
The door, then, is wide open for Brighton to pile more misery on the west Londoners, though their own unconvincing League form suggests the match could be quite even.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Half of Brighton’s four wins over Chelsea came within a week of each other last season. The Seagulls beat Chelsea 2-1 to knock them out of the FA Cup, and, just six days later, beat them 3-0 in the Premier League.
Chelsea vs Brighton match odds
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
