Chelsea will be without captain Gary Cahill and another senior member of the dressing room Cesc Fabregas after the two players were confirmed out with injuries by Antonio Conte.
The Blues have struggled to pick top form this year. All five of their games in 2018 have ended in draws, three of them ending goalless. The five games have come in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and the FA Cup and despite the frequent rotation, no single group of players have overly impressed.
Conte on injuries: "They are out [Cahill and Cesc] and I have to check a couple of situations for tomorrow's game." #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) January 19, 2018
The squad to face Brighton will certainly look different from what fans saw against Norwich in the FA Cup third round replay but some certainties are that Fabregas, who has a small sprain in his thigh and Cahill who was substituted from the Premier League clash with Leicester City last weekend, will both miss the game this weekend.
Chelsea are chasing a first win in six games and will hope the likes of Eden Hazared and Willian can be counted on lift spirits at the club.
Pedro and Alvaro Morata are also certain to be out after picking up red cards in their cameos against Norwich last Wednesday.
