Predicted Chelsea line-up (3-4-2-1) vs Brighton, Lukaku and Kovacic start

Chelsea entertain Brighton & Hove Albion in tonight's Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. The Blues will be aiming to secure another victory to keep up with Manchester City in the title race.

Predicted Line-up:

Edouard Mendy has kept eight clean sheets in the current league campaign. The 29-year-old has two more games left before joining Senegal for African Cup of Nations duty. He is expected to start in goal.

The backline will see an enforced change with Thiago Silva sidelined with a hamstring niggle. The Brazil international could be replaced by Andreas Christensen, who came off the bench at Villa Park.

No changes are expected in the wing-back positions. Reece James and Marcos Alonso are on course to continue. Ben Chilwell was initially touted to return next month, but he will now undergo a knee surgery.

In midfield, Jorginho will have a new partner with N'Golo Kante out with a recurrence of his knee injury. Mateo Kovacic could make his first start since his comeback from a hamstring problem.

Further forward, Mason Mount should be an assured starter in attacking midfield with six goal contributions this month. Callum Hudson-Odoi should partner him after a productive return against Aston Villa.

The Blues graduate won a penalty and delivered an assist in the 3-1 win. Romelu Lukaku bagged his first league goal since September in the comeback triumph over the Villans on Sunday.

The Belgian has been hampered by an ankle injury and coronavirus lately, but he was in superb touch off the bench against Villa. He is expected to lead the line ahead of Christian Pulisic tonight.

Predicted Chelsea line-up (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Chalobah, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Hudson-Odoi; Lukaku.