Frank Lampard insisted that he had not got his tactics wrong after Arsenal overwhelmed Chelsea's back three during the first half an hour of Sunday's contest at the Emirates.
Lampard, who utilised a back three so well in the victory at Tottenham before Christmas, ditched the system at half-time against Southampton on Boxing Day and again after 33 minutes at Arsenal last week.
The Blues have been unstable at the back all season long, but the switch to a back three stunted them going forward against Southampton and in the first half against the Gunners. A return to four at the back against Brighton on New Year's Day would be no surprise.
Emerson Palmeri was sacrificed after a horrendous start at Arsenal, but due to a back muscle injury to Marcos Alonso, and Cesar Azpilicueta having to play at right-back due to Reece James's ankle problem, Lampard has few other options than the Italian at left-back. Neither James nor Alonso are expected to be long term absentees.
Christian Pulisic sat out the Arsenal win after feeling a slight hamstring cramp following the Southampton game and is not a major concern, though is unlikely to return to the side at Brighton.
Chelsea predicted XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Tomori, Emerson; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Mount, Willian, Abraham
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