Chelsea vs Brighton LIVE! Carabao Cup match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction today
Chelsea return to Carabao Cup action tonight still desperate for a win to help lift the gloom around Stamford Bridge. The Blues’ second-round victory over fourth-tier AFC Wimbledon was one of just two from seven matches across all competitions so far this season amid a torrid start to life back in English football for manager Mauricio Pochettino, who could well ring the changes this evening as he looks to spark a reaction from his struggling side.
Most frustrated Chelsea fans would probably just settle for a goal or two at this point after watching their team go three games in a row now without scoring. They were made to pay for their ill-discipline here on Sunday when Ollie Watkins’ second-half goal condemned them to yet another dismal home defeat after right-back Malo Gusto saw his yellow card for a poor challenge on Lucas Digne upgraded to red following a VAR review.
Chelsea’s plight is in stark contrast to that of Brighton, who continue to soar high under Robert De Zerbi and will be relishing the chance to pile more misery on the club that has taken so many of their key assets over the last year. Follow Chelsea vs Brighton with Standard Sport’s live blog below, featuring expert analysis from Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge.
Live updates
Chelsea team news
Mauricio Pochettino should shake things up tonight in an attempt to spark a reaction from his struggling team, though a lengthy absentee list is still proving rather restrictive in that regard.
Cole Palmer could be in line for his full Chelsea debut following that £42.5million deadline day switch from Manchester City, having impressed off the bench against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Fellow summer signing Djordje Petrovic could make his first appearance between the posts in relief of No1 goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while Armando Broja made a late cameo against Villa on his first appearance for nine months after ACL surgery and will be pushing to start tonight.
Malo Gusto is suspended for Chelsea after his red card on Sunday, though Nicolas Jackson’s one-match ban for already collecting five yellows this season won’t be enforced until the weekend.
Captain Reece James is still sidelined and could now be facing a ban of his own, with Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka, Trevoh Chalobah and Marcus Bettinelli also remaining unavailable to Pochettino.
Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell, Lesley Ugochukwu and Noni Madueke will also be hoping to be rotated in from the off tonight.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Brighton
TV channel and live stream: In the UK, tonight’s game has not been picked for live television coverage, with Manchester City vs Newcastle on Sky Sports instead.
Highlights: Sky Sports’ official Twiter and YouTube channels will show highlights after the game, while ITV1 will offer a free-to-air highlights show from the third round at 12.05am BST tonight.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa live
Chelsea remain desperate for a win as they make a midweek return to Carabao Cup duty tonight.
The struggling Blues are up against it once more this evening as they take on a high-flying Brighton team under Roberto De Zerbi who will no doubt be chomping at the bit to inflict more pain on the club that has taken so many of their prized assets over the last 12 months to no avail.
Sunday’s latest miserable home loss to Aston Villa in which Chelsea were punished for their ill-discipline means they have won just two of their first seven competitive matches across all competitions under Mauricio Pochettino, who has urged his team to grow up as they search for some sort of form, rhythm or consistency.
A run of three successive matches without scoring has really laid bare the lack of a striking focal point in their huge squad still, despite the more than £1billion lavished on new players during the last three transfer windows under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake.
Will anything change tonight? Kick-off in this third-round tie is at 7:45pm BST, so stay tuned for match build-up, team news and live updates, plus expert analysis from the Evening Standard’s Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge.
