CHELSEA make the trip to Brighton with a Europa League spot in their sights – but it won’t be easy.
The Blues pulled off a late comeback last weekend against Nottingham Forest to earn all three points at the City Ground.
And as a result, they are now level on points with fifth-placed Newcastle who travel to Manchester United next.
However, Mauricio Pochettino’s men will now ironically face a Brighton side who recently held the Blues’ Europa League rivals Newcastle to a 1-1 draw.
But Chelsea will expect to get the job done, especially with April’s Premier League Player of the Month Cole Palmer firing them in left right, and centre.
Roberto De Zerbi is expected to continue without a long list of key names for the Chelsea clash.
Joao Pedro (ankle), Jan Paul van Hecke (hamstring), Joel Veltman (knock), Evan Ferguson (ankle), James Milner (thigh), Pervis Estupinan (calf), Jack Hinshelwood (foot), Kaoru Mitoma (back) and Solly March (knee) all look likely to miss the match.
However, the Brighton boss would have been delighted to see Tariq Lamptey return from injury against Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Chelsea captain Reece James made his return to the pitch after five months last weekend.
But, Pochettino will still have to manage without Enzo Fernandez (hernia), Ben Chilwell (knee), Robert Sanchez (muscle), Wesley Fofana (cruciate ligament), Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee).
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication
