Chelsea is looking for revenge on Friday evening when they go to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
The blues were well beaten during their fourth round confrontation of the FA Cup with the Seagulls last weekend while another evaporated silverware opportunity and that the men of Enzo Maresca will be desperate to turn the corner of The American Express Stadium after having started a new year.
Long -term injuries to attackers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu are unlikely to help Chelsea in their attempt to rediscover their mojo, the Blues likely to rely on the creativity and the prowess of goals of Talisman Cole Palmer on the southern coast This Friday.
Here’s how Chelsea could line up against Brighton.
GK: Filip Jorgensen – Robert Sanchez made an appearance against his former employers the last time, but Jorgensen should return between the sticks on Friday while Maresca is looking for greater defensive stability.
RB: Reece James – Maresca confirmed that James was only rested for the defeat of the FA Cup and is available for Brighton’s Revenge match. He will be tested by the living Kaoru Mitoma, who marked the winner last weekend.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – The summer recruit started the last two Chelsea outings and will fight with Trevoh Chalobah for a starting place on Friday. Benoit Badiarshile and Wesley Fofana are approaching yields but will not be available at the Amex stadium.
CB: Levi Colwill – Colwill is one of the Chelsea cohort of former Brighton players, although it is only on loan from the Seagulls of the Blues. It will be the key to supporting a defensive unit with low confidence.
LB: Marc Cucurella – Cucurella is not particularly good with the faithful of Brighton and will be put under pressure from the crowd on Friday while he is preparing to fight the rapid Yankuba Minteh.
DM: Moises Caicedo – Yes, it’s another ex-Brighton. Caicedo was one of Chelsea’s strongest artists in the Cup and will have to protect the four rear from the Georginio Rutter in shape – who marked and helped last Saturday.
DM: Enzo Fernandez – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was offered a rare start in FA Cup but will return to the bench for the Premier League competition on Friday. Fernandez will be restored to the departure XI having been a key contributor in the last victory of the Blues League against West Ham United.
RW: Pedro Neto – I could not take over on Tariq Lamptey in their weekend duel, but the Portuguese is tirelessly persistent. He will reproduce and leave this Friday if he obtains the headache in front of Noni Madueke.
AM: Cole Palmer – With injuries in the front line, Chelsea needs to palmer to hit a purple patch more than ever. He is without purpose or help in his last four games, although he forced two goals at that time.
LW: Jadon Sancho – Sancho is another which must go to the plate and wear part of the burden of the goals during the recovery of Jackson. He only managed two strikes in the colors of Chelsea.
ST: Christopher Nkunku – It is unlikely that an ineffective performance against Brighton in the Cup is strengthening confidence in front of what is likely to be a series of departures for French. He must take the opportunity if he wants to save his blues career.
