Follow live coverage as Chelsea face Brighton & Hove Albion today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Liverpool look to fend off competition from Arsenal, Manchester City and more.
The race for the Champions League places should also be a compelling battle, with a fifth place possible for English teams. Manchester United’s latest rebuild under Ruben Amorim sets expectations high once more after a dismal season last time out.
Meanwhile, it’s Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Chelsea FC 1 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:25
Goal Enzo Fernández
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:25
There will be a lot of eyes on Sanchez. The former Brighton man received a calamitous red card after just five minutes in the last Premier League match against Man United, prompting questions over his long-term credentials as Chelsea's first-choice keeper. He is yet to be tested this afternoon.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:25
Despite a host of notable defensive injuries, Chelsea are looking for four home clean sheets in a row for the first time since their opening five under Thomas Tuchel between January and March 2021. Minteh gets the ball in a relatively dangerous position on the right wing and delivers a teasing cross, but no one is there at the back post.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:24
It is an important day for Hato! With Adarabioyo, Fofana, and Colwill injured, he has been selected ahead of Badiashile and Acheampong to partner Chalobah at centre-back. It is just his second-ever Premier League start following a summer move from Ajax.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:18
VAN HECKE MAKES A GOAL-SAVING BLOCK! Fernandez dispossesses Baleba, and the ball falls to Pedro, who unselfishly plays in Estevao, but the winger's goalbound shot is heroically blocked by Van Hecke. The Brighton man celebrates his brilliance!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:17
Brighton have only kept one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League matches, a 2-0 win over Wolves in May. Since the start of 2023-24, the only ever-present sides with fewer clean sheets than the Seagulls (14) are West Ham and Wolves (13 each). Can Brighton begin to amend this unwanted record and claim an unlikely clean sheet this afternoon?
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:14
WONDERFUL SKILL AND RUN FROM ESTEVAO! The youngster nutmegs Kadioglu near the halfway line and runs toward the Brighton goal. Despite having options, he decides to shoot, and his effort is well-blocked by Dunk!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:14
JAMES FORCES A SAVE FROM A FREE-KICK! Instead of Fernandez, this time it's the Englishman who whips a menacing free-kick at goal! But Verbruggen emphatically responds, diving to his left to make an eye-catching save! Chelsea look threatening so far!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:14
Veltman receives the first yellow card of the match for a robust challenge on Neto. Perhaps a bit harsh, as the full-back won the ball, but there was a follow-through.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:13
Last season, in the corresponding fixture, Chelsea romped to a remarkable, head-turning 4-2 victory over Brighton at Stamford Bridge, with Palmer netting all four goals. The home side are without their dazzling English playmaker this afternoon. Who will step up and fill this gaping void?
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:08
CUCURELLA TRIES HIS LUCK! Neto bursts forward on the left wing, but Veltman defends solidly, forcing a block and a corner. The ball eventually falls to Cucurella, whose venomous, long-range strike flashes wide. A good start from Chelsea!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:05
BIG SAVE FROM VERBRUGGEN! Chelsea with the early possession. Fernandez luckily wins a free-kick under pressure from Baleba and Gomez in a promising position. The Argentine takes the resulting set piece, which the goalkeeper parries behind for a corner!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:01
Brighton get us underway in West London!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:01
The players are walking out onto the Stadium Bridge Pitch as Chelsea and Brighton prepare to lock horns in this mouthwatering Premier League clash! We are very close to kick-off!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:56
Hurzeler has also decided upon significant rotation, making seven changes to the side that thrashed Barnsley in midweek. Gomez keeps his place after netting four times against the League One side. Verbruggen, Van Hecke, Dunk, Ayari, Minteh, Mitoma, and Rutter all come back to the starting XI in a strong Seagulls team. Brighton won’t be able to call upon Jack Hinselwood, Solly March, or Adam Webster, who are all absent through injury.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:51
Chelsea manager Maresca has opted to make seven alterations to the team that narrowly overcame Lincoln. Sanchez returns to the line-up instead of Jorgensen, following the end of his one-game suspension. Other changes also see James, Cucurella, Caicedo, Estevao, Neto, and Pedro all reinstated to the starting XI. Badiashile and Lavia are back in the matchday squad. Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte can’t feature as he is ineligible to face his parent club. Chelsea will be without this talismanic Cole Palmer, as Maresca confirmed that he will be out injured until after the upcoming international break due to aggravating a groin issue. Tosin Adarabioyo (calf) and Wesley Fofana (concussion) were recently added to the Blues’ injury list.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:51
BRIGHTON SUBS: Brajan Gruda, Stefanos Tzimas, Danny Welbeck, James Milner, Olivier Boscagli, Jason Steele, Mats Wieffer, Maxim De Cuyper, Diego Coppola.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:46
BRIGHTON XI (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Ferdi Kadioglu, Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Joel Veltman; Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba; Kaoru Mitoma, Diego Gomez, Yankuba Minteh; Georginio Rutter.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:46
CHELSEA SUBS: Benoit Badiashile, Jamie Gittens, Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Romeo Lavia, Alejandro Garnacho.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41
CHELSEA XI (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James; Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos; Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Estevao; Joao Pedro.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41
Brighton have started the 2025-26 Premier League season inconsistently, with a record of one win, two draws, and two defeats, leaving the Seagulls in 15th position. This patchy form has been punctuated by two emphatic victories in the EFL Cup, including a 6-0 smashing of third-tier Barnsley in their latest encounter. Last weekend’s top-flight result wasn’t so favourable, as Brighton surrendered a 2-0 lead against Tottenham Hotspur, drawing 2-2. In February 2025, in the previous match between Brighton and Chelsea, Fabian Hurzeler’s men coasted to a 3-0 victory over the Blues. This campaign, Brighton should aim to find that elusive steadiness and return to some form of European football for next season. Can they produce a statement victory in the English capital to overturn their stuttering start?
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35
Chelsea returned to winning ways in their last match with a nervy and unconvincing 2-1 victory over League One outfit Lincoln City in the EFL Cup. However, Enzo Maresca’s side have dropped points in recent Premier League fixtures, drawing with Brentford and losing to Manchester United. These results have left Chelsea sixth in the table and looking for three points to climb back into the Champions League places. The Blues have an eye-catching record in West London, and are unbeaten in their last 12 home Premier League games (W9 D3), keeping seven clean sheets in their previous nine at Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, given the ownership’s investment and fans' demanding expectations, the pressure is slowly building on Maresca, who will need a reaction this afternoon to get Chelsea back on track in the top flight.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of this fascinating Premier League clash between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
