The young defender was forced off in our previous Premier League match, last weekend against Liverpool, but having missed the midweek Carabao Cup win, he will play today alongside Fikayo Tomori in the centre.

There are changes from the Liverpool starting line-up with Marcos Alonso, who came on in that match for injured Emerson Palmieri, continuing at left-back and there is no N'Golo Kante today due to a minor hamstring problem and with Mateo Kovacic on the bench, Ross Barkley and Pedro come in.

Youngsters Marc Guehi, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who featured against Grimsby, are all on the bench. Kurt Zouma is absent due to illness.

Brighton make one change from a goalless draw at Newcastle in their most recent league game. Yves Bissouma starts in place of Davy Propper.

Chelsea Kepa; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Tomori, Alonso; Barkley, Jorginho, Mount, Pedro, Abraham, Willian.

Substitutes Caballero, James, Guehi, Kovacic, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi.

Brighton Ryan; Webster, Dunk (c), Burn; Montoya, Stephens, Bissouma, Alzate; Gross, Maupay, Mooy.

Substitutes: Button, Bong, Baluta, Jahanbakhsh, Murray, Schleotto, Connolly.

The referee is Chris Kavanagh

Stats recap

Brighton are one of only two teams Chelsea have a 100 per cent winning record in the league. The other is Northampton (two games in 1965/66).Chelsea and Brighton meet for only for the ninth occasion in the league (fifth in the top flight) and 13th overall.We have a 100 per cent record in the league and overall we have won 10 of the 12 encounters in all competitions.Among sides they have faced in English league football, Chelsea are the only team Brighton have failed to beat.Brighton have lost each of their past 10 games against Chelsea in all competitions, conceding 23 goals and scoring twice in return.

Last Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool was only our second in our last 25 home league games (13 wins 10 draws, two defeats).Chelsea’s Premier League games this season have produced a total of 25 goals (12 for, 13 against), with only Manchester City’s having more (30).Frank Lampard’s side are seeking a clean sheet for the first time this season. Our last shut-out was at Leicester in May, 10 games ago.