Brighton v Chelsea LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates as Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro miss out – UK Times

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Baleba, Hinshelwood, Gross; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma

Subs: Steele, Igor, Dunk, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Ayari, de Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Enzo, Hato; Neto, Delap

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Garnacho, Derry, Guiu

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League

Alejandro Garnacho is on the bench for Chelsea despite the visitors missing Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro. In fact, it looks as if Liam Rosenior has gone with a back-five, with Pedro Neto and Liam Delap leading the line.

Just a couple of weeks after he was dropped by Liam Rosenior following comments the player made over this Chelsea future, Enzo Fernandez captains the Blues against Brighton tonight.

Fernandez missed the games against Port Vale and Manchester City after the international break but returned for the 1-0 defeat against Manchester United at the weekend. Moises Caicedo took the armband, but Fernandez has it back tonight.

If Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth the additional place in the Champions League awarded by the EPS will drop down to the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League.

This is of interest to several Premier League teams, with the race for sixth extremely competitive this season. There are just three points separating sixth-placed Chelsea to Fulham, in 12th.

Chelsea are on their worst run of form since 1998 having lost four Premier League games in a row and failing to score a single goal. Liam Rosenior did not hold back in explaining the response he wants to see from his players after they were booed off following a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

“It’s about character now – it’s about standing up,” he said. “It’s about people who are willing, in difficult moments, to stand up for the shirt and fight. That’s what I’m looking for. But I believe in them, and I believe that we can come through this period so much stronger, but we have to get this part right now.”

Brighton were 13 points behind Chelsea a few weeks ago but they come into tonight’s match having closed that gap to just one point.

Fabian Hurzeler admits his team went through a “tough period” but things are now looking up for the Seagulls as they target a European place.

“I am really happy for the players, happy for the staff because they do great work in the shadows,” he said.

“I think it’s togetherness that we showed and now we are in a position where we should really embrace what we all worked hard for.

“Now it’s about enjoying these moments, enjoying these kind of games because I think it’s a great opportunity for us to grow.”

Liam Rosenior confirms to Sky Sports that Cole Palmer misses out with a hamstring injury and has been rested ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds.

“Cole’s had some tightness in his hamstring so he’s going to be out for this game and see how he moves on for this FA Cup semi-final,” Rosenior said. “Joao Pedro will be good for Sunday. But this game is too close for him.”

There’s no Cole Palmer in the Chelsea squad while Joao Pedro is absent for the second game in a row. Liam Delap again leads the line.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Enzo, Hato; Neto, Delap

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Garnacho, Derry, Guiu

Brighton make three changes from the 2-2 draw at Tottenham. Diego Gomez misses out due to a knock, but Danny Welbeck and Yasin Ayari make way. In come two of their goalscorers from Saturday, in Karou Mitoma and Georgino Rutter. Carols Baleba also returns.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Baleba, Hinshelwood, Gross; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma

Subs: Steele, Igor, Dunk, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Ayari, de Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman

“They have been supportive of me in our daily conversations, they have been magnificent in their support of me and the team.

“We’re aligned that we know we need to win games of football in the now, but that doesn’t go against what we’re trying to do, which is give consistent success to this club long-term.”