Moises Caicedo is a doubt for Chelsea's Premier League clash with Brighton this afternoon, with the Ecuador international struggling with a knock picked up in training. The Blues began their league campaign with a 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday night, but Caicedo missed that match and the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town.
Head coach Xabi Alonso was hopeful Caicedo would return to training on Friday, with a late decision expected on his fitness. The midfielder's absence has opened the door for Reece James and Romeo Lavia to start in midfield, as they did against Fulham, with Enzo Fernandez left out of the starting XI.
Fernandez's Future and New Goalkeeper
Manchester City are expected to make a move for Fernandez before Tuesday's transfer deadline, and Alonso left him out of the squad for the Luton match. It remains unclear whether Fernandez will feature against Brighton in what could be a final appearance at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Emiliano Martinez is expected to become Chelsea's new number one after a £7.5million deal was agreed with Aston Villa this week. Robert Sanchez's poor performance at Craven Cottage has raised questions, and Mike Penders kept a clean sheet against Luton, though Alonso has not confirmed who will start in goal.
Team News and Predicted XI
Jordan Henderson and Marco Palestra remain sidelined, but Wesley Fofana is available again after completing a suspension from the final day of last season. Levi Colwill was not involved against Luton, but Alonso confirmed there are no issues with the centre-half, who is still being managed carefully after missing most of the 2025-26 season with an ACL injury.
It seems unlikely Fernandez will appear in Chelsea blue again, meaning James could continue in midfield. The club are monitoring Colwill's fitness and game management closely.
Match Details and Broadcast Info
Chelsea host Brighton today, Sunday 30 August, with kick-off at 2pm. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers. Metro will also provide live updates from Stamford Bridge.
