Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Brighton & Hove Albion: Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia updates

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when they play host to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Blues ended a three-game winless streak on Tuesday night as they came from behind to earn a 2-1 victory at Lincoln City in the EFL Cup third round.

However, last weekend's defeat to Manchester United has left Enzo Maresca's side down in sixth place in the Premier League table, just three points ahead of 14th-placed Brighton.

Here, Sports Mole assesses all of Chelsea’s injury and suspension issues ahead of the game against Brighton, who thrashed Barnsley by a 6-0 scoreline earlier this week.

Cole Palmer

Status: Out

Type of injury: Groin

Possible return date: October 18 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

With his groin issue well-documented on the back of his early substitution against Man United last weekend, it was no surprise that Cole Palmer missed the Lincoln City fixture.

Maresca has since revealed that Palmer will be absent for the next three matches in the hope that he could return after the international break.

Liam Delap

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Liam Delap has already been ruled out until December with the hamstring injury that he sustained at the end of August.

Benoit Badiashile

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Return date: September 27 (vs. Brighton)

Benoit Badiashile has not played for Chelsea since the Club World Cup courtesy of a muscle problem. However, the centre-back has recently returned to training and Maresca has acknowledged that he could return to the squad this weekend.

Romeo Lavia

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: September 27 (vs. Brighton)

Romeo Lavia finds himself in a similar situation to Badiashile and could return to the substitutes' bench this weekend.

Levi Colwill

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Levil Colwill had surgery on a serious knee injury in early August and will not come back into contention until the closing weeks of the season at the very earliest.

Dario Essugo

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Dario Essugo suffered a thigh injury during international duty with Portugal Under-21s in September and will not be back in contention until the turn of the year.

Marc Guiu

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: September 27 (vs. Brighton)

Maresca has suggested that Marc Guiu sustained some sort of injury prior the Lincoln game, but he is believed to have since returned to training.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea do not have any players officially suspended for Saturday’s game with Robert Sanchez having served a one-game ban; however, it is essential to remember that Mykhaylo Mudryk is still sidelined due to a provisional doping ban.