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Blues looking to avoid second defeat against Brighton in a week

Chelsea once again make the trip to take on Brighton tonight as they look for revenge in the Premier League. The Seagulls knocked Enzo Maresca’s side out of the FA Cup fourth round last weekend and the Blues will be out to right that wrong, particularly as it could be a key game in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Things have stalled for Chelsea since around the Christmas period. While Maresca was always keen to stress that his side were not ready for a title challenge, even he will have been concerned about their form of late. There has been a further blow with the news that Nicolas Jackson is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with Christopher Nkunku leading the line in his absence. Reece James starts on the bench tonight.

With Manchester City, Newcastle and the rest of the chasing pack not in action until Saturday, this is a chance for Chelsea to solidify their place in the top four. Victory would take them five points clear of their closest challengers. Follow Brighton vs Chelsea with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at the ground!

Live updates

4 minutes ago

Maresca: Chelsea wanted top-four finish within two years

Enzo Maresca has insisted Chelsea are ahead of schedule despite their recent dip in form.

The Blues were threatening to play a role in the title race before Christmas, but Maresca is adamant top-four this season would be a significant success.

"The club asked to play Champions League in two years," Maresca said. "If we are able to bring this club after one year, it will be fantastic."

"It's very important for sure. First of all for the club, for the fans, because this club belongs to the Champions League. Then for a while, we didn't play Champions League, we didn't compete for important titles.

"The only thing I can say is that now we are in the right process, we are in the right direction. Chelsea has never been top four in the table in the last two years.

"This season, we spent almost all our season top four at least. So that shows that we are in the right direction. For sure it's not enough because we want to bring this club where this club belongs.

"As I said, that is Champions League. We're going to try to do our best and if we are able to do that, we're going to be very happy. Otherwise, we're going to try next year."

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

11 minutes ago

Adam Webster speaks ahead of kick-off

Brighton defender insists the hosts have already put last weekend’s win over Chelsea behind them as they look to once again get the better of the Blues tonight.

“They’ve got a lot of quality in their team, a lot of attacking threats,” Webster says.

“They can score goals from all over the pitch.”

20 minutes ago

Malik Ouzia at Amex Stadium

Can Christopher Nkunku show he is ready to step up in Nicolas Jackson’s absence?

31 minutes ago

One change for Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler largely sticking with a winning formula.

Just the once change from the side that beat Brighton a week ago in the FA Cup, as Adam Webster comes in for the injured Lewis Dunk.

That means the likes of Joao Pedro and Simon Adingra are waiting in reserve if required.

40 minutes ago

James on the bench for Chelsea

Chelsea team is largely as expected.

Filip Jorgensen is now the first-choice goalkeeper and is preferred to Robert Sanchez, while Christopher Nkunku leads the line with Enzo Maresca short of options.

Only slight surprise is that Reece James has to settle for a place on the bench.

Getty Images

47 minutes ago

Brighton team news

Starting XI: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, Van Hecke, Veltman, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma, Rutter, Minteh, Welbeck

Subs: Rushworth, Gruda, Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Gomez, Ayari, Wieffer, O’Riley

50 minutes ago

Chelsea team news

Starting XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Nkunku

Subs: Sanchez, Acheampong, Tosin, Anselmino, James, Amougou, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho, George

58 minutes ago

Stand by...

Team news coming up from the Amex in the next five minutes or so.

Lewis Dunk is a doubt for Brighton, while Enzo Maresca is increasingly short of options in attack.

All will soon be revealed.

1 hour ago

Maresca hits out at fixture scheduling

Enzo Maresca has blasted the “completely wrong” Premier League scheduling that forced Chelsea to play on transfer deadline day, after he was dealt a centre-forward injury crisis in the final hours of the window.

The Blues beat West Ham 2-1 on the last day of the window this month, but victory came at a cost as first Nicolas Jackson and then Marc Guiu suffered hamstring injuries.

Both players are set for significant spells on the sidelines, with Maresca confirming on Thursday that first-choice No9 Nicolas Jackson will not return until after he March international break.

Those injuries have cast a dim light on Chelsea’s decision not to strengthen their forward line in January, but Maresca instead directed his frustration at the timing of the London derby, which left the club no time to react in the transfer market.

“I think it’s completely wrong,” Maresca said of his side having to play as the window drew to close.

“No [we can’t plan for it] and the reason is that we had two injuries on the deadline. We finished the game at 10pm and the deadline was 11pm. You cannot plan to get injuries to two strikers in the same game.

“It’s impossible, but it happened and now we need to find solutions because we didn’t have time to go for a No9.

“It’s something you cannot plan, in the same game, on the deadline, two strikers both injured. It’s difficult to plan that.”

Action Images via Reuters

1 hour ago

Stage is set!

Under big night under lights on the south coast for the Blues...