Glenn
Murray is set to return for Brighton when they host Chelsea in the Premier
League on Sunday.
The striker missed last weekend's defeat to Burnley with a shoulder injury,
but manager Chris Hughton says Murray "has made a full recovery".
Brighton were beaten 4-0 at home by Chelsea last season and Hughton is eager
for an improvement from his side.
"We know we have to start well. Chelsea reminded us of the levels of this
league last season," he said.
"Our level of performance at the moment is good and I thought we were
unfortunate not to get anything from last weekend. We have some tough
matches coming up, you have to be in those games."
Chelsea have lost their last two Premier League away matches, but beat
Manchester City 2-0 at home last weekend.
They rested several first-team regulars for their draw with Vidi in the
Europa League on Thursday.
Team news
Murray is available for Brighton along with Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who has
recovered from a hamstring problem.
Jose Izquierdo (knee) could be in contention while defender Shane Duffy is
suspended.
Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is a doubt with a knee injury.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and
N'Golo Kante are poised to return to the starting line-up after being rested
for Thursday's Europa League tie with Vidi.
Mateo Kovacic, Gary Cahill and Victor Moses missed the trip to Budapest
through injury and are expected to be absent again.
Match stats
Brighton have lost each of their last eight games against Chelsea in all
competitions, conceding 18 goals and scoring just once in return.
Chelsea have won each of their six games against Brighton in league
competition; their best 100% record against a single opponent in league
history.
Brighton are looking for their first victory against Chelsea in any
competition since January 1933, when they won 2-1 in an FA Cup third round
tie.
Chelsea have won their first two Premier League games against Brighton
without conceding (2-0 and 4-0) - the only other team they have won their
first three games against in the competition without conceding is Portsmouth
(won the first six without conceding).
Brighton have lost just one of their last 10 home Premier League games (W5
D4). However, 80% of their home defeats in the competition have been against
'big six' opposition (4/5).
Chelsea's Eden Hazard has provided an assist in each of his last three
Premier League games (4 assists in total). He's never assisted a goal in
four consecutive games in the competition before, with Cesc Fabregas in
September 2014 the last player to do so for Chelsea.
Merson's prediction
I've got to go Chelsea here. I like Brighton at home, they're strong at the
Amex, but I think Chelsea have to back up that huge win against City.
Last week we were looking at Chelsea and thinking: 'If they get beat by
City, are they going to make the top four?'
They go and beat Man City, and all of a sudden they have to back that up. If
they don't, the Man City game was a complete and utter waste of time. This
is how Maurizio Sarri will be looking at it.
He'll be thinking: 'Can my players do this again in a completely different
setting?' They failed miserably at Wolves, which may have thrown them out of
the title race, so this is a big test. It's about attitude.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
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