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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Pulisic, Alonso and Jorgino start, no Mount - the team Chelsea fans want to see against Brighton

It's the beginning of a new decade and Chelsea kick things off with a Premier League encounter against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Blues entered 2020 as the top team from the capital across the whole division and can move to within three points of third placed Manchester City - albeit temporarily - by completing the double over the Seagulls.

With Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves all in action away from home later today, there's a big chance for Chelsea to lay down a marker and create even more distance between themselves and the chasing pack for a Champions League spot.

The good news for head coach Frank Lampard is that he has no fresh injury concerns.

In fact, he's been given a huge fitness boost with Christian Pulisic - who missed the 2-1 win over Arsenal at the weekend with a muscle problem - has declared himself "100 per cent healthy".

"100% healthy but thank you guys for the concern," he tweeted in response to @Yahoo Soccer asking how long the USA international could be out of action for.

And Lampard has confirmed the winger should be fine.

"It is a small hamstring [problem]," Lampard added. "I wouldn't even call it an injury - after the Southampton game the lads did some strides and he felt cramp.

"He has trained at a low level, for me it was more precautionary against Arsenal. We need our wingers, we need him going into an important period."

Ahead of the game at the Amex Stadium, football.london offered fans the chance to step into Lampard's shoes and pick the team to take on the Seagulls.

Supporters were asked who they'd like to see start the game against Brighton and those who responded offered very little in terms of a surprise.

As seen in the line-up graphic above, Kepa Arrizabalaga keeps his place in between the sticks as he goes in search of a first clean sheet of the new year.

In front of him, fans would like Lampard to stick with the four-man defence that changed the game against the Gunners.

That would mean no place for Fikayo Tomori and Marcos Alonso returning at left-back in place of Emerson Palmieri.

In midfield, the big call from supporters is for Mason Mount to be rested in order for the trio of Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and N'Golo Kante to be restored.

Then in attack it's Tammy Abraham leading the line once again being flanked by Willian and Pulisic.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic

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