How Chelsea could line up against Brighton & Hove Albion

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be forced into a double defensive alteration for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues lost Reece James to two bookable offences in last weekend's humiliating 4-1 loss at Newcastle United, where Marc Cucurella was also cautioned for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

With both players missing out on Sunday due to suspension, Pochettino will be waiting with bated breath to learn of Malo Gusto's condition after the France Under-21 international sat out the St James' Park pummelling with a tendon issue.

Chelsea stated on Friday morning that Gusto was continuing to follow his recovery protocol, so Axel Disasi might be forced to deputise on the right, while Levi Colwill should replace ex-Brighton man Cucurella on the opposite flank.

Thiago Silva should not lose his place in front of Robert Sanchez despite a calamitous history-making appearance last weekend, where he became the Blues' oldest outfield player in history, and Benoit Badiashile did not cover himself in glory either, but the Frenchman will hold his place if Disasi is required out wide.

Moises Caicedo was only a substitute at St James' Park following his exploits with Ecuador, but the former Seagulls midfielder should return to the XI against his old club, displacing Lesley Ugochukwu in the process.

Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher's spots in the engine room appear to be safe, and the same can be said of attacking trio Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson, who scored the winner in September's EFL Cup win over Brighton.

Wesley Fofana (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) and Ben Chilwell (thigh) will all watch on from the sidelines due to injury, but Pochettino has not ruled Romeo Lavia (ankle) or Christopher Nkunku (knee) out of potential debuts just yet.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson