Predicted Chelsea Line-Up vs Brighton - Two Star Players Returns, Big Decision On Goalkeeper Role

Previewing Chelsea's Premier League fixture against Brighton.

Xabi Alonso is expected to field a similar Chelsea starting XI to the one he used against Fulham, with a few changes, for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion.

It took Chelsea more fight than expected to beat League One side Luton Town on Thursday, but they secured a 2-0 win without any injuries in the end.

They will only have a couple of days to prepare for Brighton’s visit to Stamford Bridge this weekend, and for certain players, it will be mainly about recovery.

Like Chelsea, Brighton will head into this game with confidence after back-to-back wins to start their season. Fabian Hurzeler’s side beat Aston Villa 4-0 last weekend, before thrashing Norwegian side Tromso with the same scoreline in the second leg of their Conference League play-off tie.

Chelsea lost all three of their encounters against Brighton last season, twice in the Premier League and once in the FA Cup, so they know this is no easy fixture.

“It's only two games. A good start, but it's still early days. And on Sunday, (Brighton) are a good team, a good test to see where we are,” said Alonso in his pre-match press conference.

Who are the likely Chelsea starters?

Chelsea are set to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa in the next few days, but even if he signs, it is unclear whether the deal will have gone through in time for him to make the squad.

If not, the goalkeeper options will be Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders.

Alonso refused to reveal his team selection when asked whether Sanchez would be given another chance in goal, although he clarified that he had already made the decision.

Sanchez remains the more likely option given his Premier League experience, but if Chelsea have already decided to let him go this summer, Penders could still start in goal.

Alonso is expected to revert to a 3-4-2-1 formation, after using a 4-2-3-1 against Luton Town, so he will have to choose three centre-backs.

Wesley Fofana served the second match of his two-match suspension on Thursday and will likely play on the right of the back three. Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill should be the other two centre-backs.

With Marco Palestra out with a minor injury, Malo Gusto will likely continue in the right wing-back role, while Jorrel Hato returns on the left.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo’s potential return is a huge boost. If the Ecuador international is fit, he is expected to start alongside Reece James in central midfield.

For the front three, there are hardly any reasons for Alonso not to continue with the combination of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers, which proved effective against Fulham.

Sanchez, Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill, Gusto, James, Caicedo, Hato, Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro