Chelsea are without both Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro as Liam Rosenior’s side bid to end their losing Premier League run against Brighton and keep their faint hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League alive.
Rosenior is under pressure after a run of four straight top-flight defeats, including a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Manchester United at Stamford Bridge last time out, and he will be without two of his key attackers in Palmer and Pedro for the trip to in-form Brighton.
The Seagulls can go above Chelsea with a win victory tonight and Fabian Hurzeler’s side remain in the hunt for European football themselves this season, in what is turning into a tightly packed race for sixth place.
Rosenior confirmed that Palmer has been rested ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds after feeling discomfort in his hamstring. “Cole’s had some tightness so he’s going to be out for this game and see how he moves on for this FA Cup semi-final,” Rosenior said.
Follow all the action below.
Brighton 1-0 Chelsea
16 mins: CHANCE! Delap loses the ball far too easily and Brighton can counter-attack. It ends up with Rutter firing over from inside the box. The traveling Chelsea fans cannot believe what they are seeing.
Brighton 1-0 Chelsea
14 mins: SAVE! Sanchez has to tip over from Van Hecke! Chelsea are all over the place in defence and midfield – Brighton sliced right through them with ease. Sanchez has kept them in it.
Brighton 1-0 Chelsea
13 mins: Whistles as Chalobah passes the ball straight out of play. Rosenior shouts some encouragement but Brighton are finding this very easy early on.
Brighton 1-0 Chelsea
11 mins: Brighton are pinging the ball around quite comfortably, with the home fans even starting to cheer the odd pass around the back. Delap is frustrated by the offside flag and there are some boos for the returning Cucurella.
Brighton 1-0 Chelsea
7 mins: Brighton have made a very sharp start and have carried their excellent form into this meeting with Chelsea, who are in serious danger of losing five in a row now. Palmer and Pedro are looking very glum sitting high up in the stands.
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Chelsea (KADIOGLU 4′)
BRIGHTON STRIKE FROM THE CORNER AND CHELSEA ARE BEHIND INSIDE THREE MINUTES!
The corner from the left is not cleared by Chelsea and the front-post flick-on falls to Kadioglu, who thrashes in!
Fofana tries to clear off the line but could not block the shot as it beat Sanchez. As it stands, Brighton are going above Chelsea.
“Another game without a clean sheet for Liam Rosenior”
Ferdi Kadıoğlu gives Brighton the lead inside three minutes! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/aCsFpOdP2X
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 21, 2026
Brighton 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins: SAVE! Almost a copy of Mitoma’s fabulous goal against Spurs on Saturday. Gross swings the ball towards the back post and picks out Mitoma, who was all on his own. The winger’s shot is down and into the ground but Sanchez saves!
Brighton 0-0 Chelsea
1 mins: Even without Pedro, Chelsea have three former Brighton players in Sanchez, Cucurella and Sanchez. Rosenior is playing a back-three/five in the Premier League for the first time.
KICK-OFF! Brighton 0-0 Chelsea
No Palmer, no Pedro… no goals and no points in Chelsea’s last four. Can they end that run against an in-form Brighton side? We’re underway.
Reminder of team news and how to watch Brighton v Chelsea
Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Baleba, Hinshelwood, Gross; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma
Subs: Steele, Igor, Dunk, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Ayari, de Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Enzo, Hato; Neto, Delap
Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Garnacho, Derry, Guiu
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
