Chelsea’s bid to end a four-game Premier League losing run away at Brighton became more complicated after Cole Palmer was left out of the matchday squad. Manager Liam Rosenior confirmed the reason as “some tightness in his hamstring.” Palmer has struggled with injuries this season but had started the last 10 straight games and had recently seemed to turn a corner.

With João Pedro still nursing a thigh issue, Chelsea will take the pitch at Amex Stadium without two of their most dangerous attackers. Desperately needing a win to course correct in the Champions League qualification race, the team faces a significant selection challenge.

Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Robert Sánchez; Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato; Malo Gusto, Moisés Caicedo, Roméo Lavia, Marc Cucurella; Enzo Fernández; Pedro Neto, Liam Delap.

Substitutes: Teddy Sharman-Lowe (GK), Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr, Andrey Santos, Dário Essugo, Jesse Drry, Alejandro Garnacho, Marc Guiu.

Rosenior has elected to include Roméo Lavia in the XI to partner Moisés Caicedo in the base of midfield, allowing Enzo Fernández to slide forward and operate in the No. 10 role, replacing the injured Palmer. “Having just returned from an internal suspension, the Argentine was one of the few bright spots of last weekend’s defeat.” Trevoh Chalobah has been included and will make his first start since suffering an injury against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.

The manager’s switch to a 3-4-1-2 appears aimed at prioritizing defensive security in light of the attacking absences. Liam Delap and Pedro Neto will be the most advanced players as Chelsea attempt to arrest their poor run in front of goal. Palmer missing the clash against Brighton is a blow, and there is also uncertainty over his availability for Chelsea’s FA Cup semifinal against Leeds United on Sunday. “He’s out for this game, and we’ll see how he moves on for the FA Cup semifinal,” Rosenior told reporters ahead of kick-off vs. Brighton.

Gameweek 33 brings both headaches and opportunities for FPL managers as several teams play twice. The double fixtures make prioritising players from the right squads crucial, with Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United and Manchester City all on double duty.

Goalkeepers
Karl Darlow (£3.9m) stands out because of his low price and fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) and Bournemouth (A). He has scored 16 points across his last three fixtures and looks nailed on for the remainder of the season. Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.6m) also offers two fixtures, Arsenal (H) and Burnley (A), but his inclusion uses one of three Man City slots managers may prefer to spend on midfield and forward assets. Đorđe Petrović (£4.6m) is a Bournemouth alternative after three clean sheets in his last six outings versus Newcastle United (A) and Leeds (H).

Defenders
Bournemouth defenders Marcos Senesi (£5.2m) and James Hill (£4.2m) present clean sheet potential and solid defensive contribution totals, while Adrien Truffert (£4.7m) provides more attacking upside via assists. Leeds options Pascal Struijk (£4.3m), Jayden Bogle (£4.4m) and Gabriel Gudmundsson (£3.8m) offer differing mixes of defensive reliability and attacking threat. Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) is the main Chelsea defender to consider despite matches with Manchester United (H) and Brighton (A) being tough for clean sheets. Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m) would be an obvious pick after a 14-point weekend and 52 points in six gameweeks, but he is an injury concern; Marc Guéhi (£5.1m) is a viable alternative if O’Reilly is ruled out.

Midfield and attack
Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) remains an attractive midfield option despite high ownership. Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) offers a differential and Jérémy Doku (£6.4m) provides explosive potential. Cole Palmer (£10.5m) will start both Chelsea games and is on spot kicks. Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier (£5.4m) is notable for set-piece and penalty responsibility versus Rayan (£5.5m) and Alex Scott (£5.0m). Pascal Groß (£5.5m) and Yankuba Minteh (£5.5m) could be short-term Brighton values.

Forwards
Erling Haaland (£14.4m) is the obvious captaincy candidate across two fixtures, with particular promise in the Burnley match. João Pedro (£7.7m) is a reliable pick given Chelsea’s double and his 82 points since Liam Rosenior took charge; he faces little competition for his starting role.

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler confirmed that centre back Jan Paul van Hecke will hold talks over his future at the club. Hürzeler made clear his appreciation for the defender and signalled a willingness to find a solution that suits both player and club.

“I love Jan Paul,” Hürzeler said in a press conference. “I love his attitude, how he works for the team, I love his mentality of winning. He has a big impact on his teammates; therefore I would love to continue working with him, because we have a really good relationship.”

The timing of any decision may be affected by van Hecke’s likely involvement with the Netherlands this summer in North America for the 2026 World Cup. Hürzeler said he wants to include the player’s perspective when planning ahead.

“I also like some perspective from the players regarding their future,” Hürzeler added. “We will sit together, try to make a decision that is best for the club, that is best for the player. Jan Paul knows what he has with Brighton. He’s always had the opportunity to play, to grow, to make the next step.

“We hope to make the next step together, to be successful with him. This will be our main challenge and then we see how it’s going.”

In the eyes of Chelsea, van Hecke’s greatest strength will be his clean bill of health. Chelsea’s defence has been hampered this season by injuries to key players, with Reece James sidelined by a hamstring problem, Trevoh Chalobah recovering from an ankle issue and Levi Colwill out with a knee injury. Chelsea’s reinforcements, namely Wesley Fofana and Mamadou Sarr, have not proven themselves, contributing to defensive disorganization.

Van Hecke has been a consistent presence for Brighton, starting 29 matches for the Seagulls this season and contributing three goals and two assists. Hürzeler stressed the player’s leadership and consistency in training and matches.

“He is good at keeping a structure in defensive shape and on top of that he is a great leader,” Hürzeler said. “He is leading by performance. He is a role model for that, every training session 100 percent, every game 100 percent. Therefore, he has all the characteristics to be a future leader for this club.”