Brighton v Chelsea
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: The American Express Community Stadium
Date: Sunday 16th December 2018
Kick-off: 13:30 GMT
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Andrew Garratt
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
TEAM NEWS
Brighton striker Glenn Murray has fully recovered from the shoulder injury which restricted him to a substitute appearance last weekend.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh is back in contention and Jose Izquierdo's knee problem will be assessed, but Shane Duffy is still suspended.
Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and N'Golo Kante were rested in the Europa League and should return for Chelsea.
Alvaro Morata is a doubt with a knee injury and Mateo Kovacic remains out.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Jonathan Pearce: If Chelsea are to convince the doubters, they need to win this as comfortably as they did last season: a 4-0 cruise. Willian and Hazard were brilliant that day. Their recent inconsistency has personified the team's patchy form.
Will it be the Chelsea who were dreadful at Spurs? Or the team so good against Manchester City? The capable first-half side at Wolves or the shambolic second-half outfit there?
On the back of six points from their last nine, Brighton have a free hit. There's no pressure.
If they start on the front foot they can expose the visitors, especially in the air. That's why Maurizio Sarri must start Olivier Giroud. His aerial power in both boxes could be key.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Chris Hughton: "Our level of performance at the moment is good - I thought we were unfortunate not to get anything from last weekend.
"That's important because we have some tough matches coming up - you have to be in those games.
"You have to be part of a good defensive unit as well as standing up to the challenge individually on Sunday."
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri: "For us it is a very important match. We need to confirm our motivation and determination like we showed in the last match.
"We need these qualities with continuity because every match is three points. We need to improve, improve a lot.
"I agree this match for us is really very important. Maybe it is the most important in this season at this moment."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
[*=left]Chelsea have won all six of their league games against Brighton by an aggregate score of 12-1.
[*=left]Brighton are looking for their first victory over Chelsea in any competition since 1933, when they won 2-1 in the FA Cup third round.
[*=left]The Seagulls have lost the last eight meetings, conceding 18 goals and scoring just once.
[*=left]Brighton have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League home games (W5, D4), and failed to score in only one of the last 14.
[*=left]However, four of their five home defeats in the division have come against last season's top six.
[*=left]Brighton manager Chris Hughton is winless in his last eight meetings with Chelsea.
[*=left]Glenn Murray's goals have been worth nine points this season, a joint league-high with Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Everton's Richarlison.
[*=left]Brighton's only shot on target last weekend against Burnley came in the 93rd minute.
[*=left]Thirteen of Brighton's 19 league goals have come via a set-piece.
[*=left]Chelsea have lost their last two Premier League away games, having sustained just one defeat in the previous nine (W7, D1).
[*=left]They began the season with five straight league victories but have only won five of the last 11, drawing four and losing two.
[*=left]The Blues have used just 20 players in the Premier League in 2018-19 - only Wolves, with 18, have selected fewer.
[*=left]Eden Hazard has made a league-high eight assists, double the tally he managed in 34 appearances last season.
[*=left]The Belgian could assist Premier League goals in four consecutive games for the first time.
[*=left]Kepa Arrizabalaga has not kept consecutive league clean sheets since August 2017 for Athletic Club in La Liga.
[*=left]However, Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in all five Premier League matches this season following a Europa League fixture.