Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill will return in a much-changed Chelsea starting lineup when they host Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea will aim to continue the perfect start to the 2026/27 season when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Xabi Alonso has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Marco Palestra (knock) and Jordan Henderson (wrist) are the only players in the treatment room, with the duo likely to return before the international break. Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo should be fit and available to take on his former club.
However, Enzo Fernandez may not feature again after Alonso omitted him from the matchday squad to take on Luton Town, with the links with Manchester City growing. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Alonso provided fitness updates on Caicedo, Levi Colwill, and Geovany Quenda.
The Chelsea manager said, “There were no issues, and the plan is that they are training [from Friday] and preparing for the game on Sunday. With Levi, after his injury last season, he is still in a period where he has to take the right steps, we don’t want to push him too much.”
We want to make sure [his body] doesn’t get stressed and that he feels comfortable and well. It’s the same with Geo as well. He is hopefully training [on Friday] and we are hopeful that he can be involved [against Brighton]. But we need to check. No decision has been made.”
Robert Sanchez should retain his spot between the sticks, as Martinez has not arrived in time to be registered for Gameweek 2. Chelsea will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, with the central defensive unit featuring Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill, and Jorrel Hato.
Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria should start as the two wing-backs, with the wide duo providing width in the final third and protecting the centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, Reece James will line up alongside Caicedo, with Valentin Barco waiting in the wings if Caicedo cannot start. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line, with Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Lacroix, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, James, Caicedo, Chavarria; Rogers, Palmer; Joao Pedro