Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto have all been back in action in recent weeks, leaving Enzo Fernandez, Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia as the only absentees.
This week’s returnees include Ben Chilwell, back from a knee issue sustained while on international duty with England in March, and he is named on the bench.
James returned to action on Saturday with aplomb after five months on the sidelines following hamstring surgery, producing a sensational 18-minute cameo as Chelsea came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest for a third win on the bounce, but he is not risked from the start here.
Djordje Petrovic continues as goalkeeper in front of a back four of the returning Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Marc Cucurella. Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher are the midfielders in the double pivot.
The four attacking players is, again, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk and Nicolas Jackson, with Raheem Sterling unsuccessful in pushing for his first start since March after scoring against Forest.
Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Gallagher, Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk, Jackson
Subs: Silva, Sterling, Bettinelli, Ugochukwu, Nkunku, Chilwell, James, Colwill, Casadei
Time and date: 7.30pm BST on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton
