This 3pm Saturday kick-off pits the Blues, second-highest goalscorers in the Premier League, against the Seagulls, who share the third-best defensive record.

Barrow’s Carabao Cup visit on Tuesday ended 5-0 – our eighth-biggest win in the competition – with another shutout for the Londoners setting up a round four rendezvous with the winner of Wimbledon and Newcastle United (they meet in a rearranged tie on Tuesday 1 October).

Brighton are one of just four teams in the Premier League yet to lose, though they have drawn their last three, and they have never emerged unbeaten from the opening six top-flight fixtures.

Enzo Maresca’s side have now opened the scoring in seven of our eight matches across all competitions, Christopher Nkunku striking first in four of them and Nicolas Jackson in the other three.

Overall in the league, only Manchester City (13) have found the net more times than Chelsea (11), and after back-to-back league wins with a clean sheet on the road it would be a great time to start a similar run at home.

Team news

Tuesday’s slick, professional beating of Barrow after 11 team changes demonstrated that Maresca’s selections are complicated merely by the fine form of so many in his squad.

The brave League Two leaders had no answer to Chelsea’s physicality, ingenuity and organisation, despite a side unrecognisable from the one which dominated West Ham United three days earlier, except in playing style.

So many players enjoyed confidence-building minutes, but the Italian is expected to revert to something like the rested starting XI that earned successive away wins to nil in the top flight.

Malo Gusto, back from injury on Tuesday, may retain his place at right-back, and Romeo Lavia could return, leaving Reece James the only key absentee.

The past few league battles have been won on the training pitch of Cobham, and tactical nous plus talent eager to learn is easy on the eye. Cole Palmer and Jackson’s well-timed pressing has been crucial and our swift transitional play proved deadly.

One of the most ‘Thrilling’ sights in football is Jackson in full flight, and his cold-blooded finishes and assist brought his goal involvement to 13 from as many Premier League appearances (nine goals, three assists).

Another big factor in last weekend’s success were direct passes through the Irons’ middle from the back. Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill will look to do the same against Brighton's aggressively high defensive line if selected.

It’s still so early in the new campaign but the Londoners are not only scoring more per game (2.20, an improvement on 2.03 last season) but also conceding fewer (1.00 now as opposed to 1.64 in 2023/24).

The history

Results in these fixtures have come in batches over the years, with three straight wins against the Sussex club the latest sequence.

Prior to that the Seagulls stole our chips back-to-back, but only after three draws in succession. Those stalemates completed 17 matches unbeaten for the Blues against Brighton, stretching back to an FA Cup tie in 1967.

Premier League encounters began at the Bridge on Boxing Day 2017, when second-half goals from Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso meant no club from Europe’s top five leagues at that time could boast more goals by Spanish players.

Former Spurs man Chris Hughton was in charge of the Seagulls when Chelsea registered our biggest league score against them, 3-0 in April 2019. This time Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek secured the points for Maurizio Sarri’s side.

Last December’s encounter was a closer affair, especially with Conor Gallagher dismissed for a second yellow just before the break (James was also sent off in the 88th minute at the Amex). Chelsea's 10 men led 2-0 then and 3-1 later, with a goal for Colwill and two for Enzo Fernandez, before seeing the game out for 3-2, our first league win against Albion since that 3-0.

Know this…

Jackson’s second goal at West Ham put the finishing touch to 90 seconds of uninterrupted Chelsea build-up. involving 26 passes.

Robert Sanchez has dealt with nine of the 55 crosses (16.4 per cent) into his box this season, the highest percentage in the top flight.

Both Chelsea and Brighton like to dominate the ball, with possession percentages of 56.6 for the hosts (sixth-highest in the top flight) and 62 for the visitors (third).

Brighton have been flagged for offside just three times this season, the lowest number in the top flight, alongside Liverpool.

Since his Chelsea debut last season, Palmer has recorded 39 goals or assists, more than any other Premier League player except Erling Haaland (also 39).

Maresca’s 21 Premier League substitutes have scored or assisted four goals so far this season. Only Unai Emery’s 30 replacements at Aston Villa have had a bigger impact (seven goal contributions).