Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge this weekend looking to steady the ship after a turbulent run of form.
Back-to-back defeats to Bayern Munich and Manchester United raised questions over Enzo Maresca’s side, while a narrow Carabao Cup escape at Lincoln highlighted their fragility.
The potential return of Robert Sánchez offers some reassurance between the posts, with backup Filip Jorgensen far from convincing in his recent outings.
Brighton, meanwhile, arrive buoyed by a 6-0 demolition of Barnsley in the cup, with summer signing Diego Gómez scoring four times to put himself firmly in contention for a start.
Here is all you need to know about Chelsea vs Brighton: Prediction, kick-off time and How to Watch.
Chelsea vs Brighton: Prediction, kick-off time and How to Watch
Referees
Simon Hooper will take charge of proceedings at Stamford Bridge. He has refereed four Premier League games so far this season, showing 22 yellow cards and one red.
That dismissal came in the Newcastle v Liverpool clash, when Anthony Gordon was sent off following a VAR review. Hooper began his campaign with the high-profile Manchester United v Arsenal fixture and remains one of the division’s most experienced referees.
The official’s last red card prior to Gordon was on the opening day of last season, when he dismissed Ashley Young during Everton’s defeat to Brighton.
Hooper’s tally of 137 yellow cards across the 2023/24 campaign represented an average of around 4.5 per match, and his current numbers suggest he remains unafraid to brandish cards when needed.
Full officiating team for Chelsea vs Brighton:
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Referee: Simon Hooper
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Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
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Fourth official: Ruebyn Ricardo
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VAR: Darren England
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Assistant VAR: Gary Beswick
Match details
The fixture takes place at Stamford Bridge and is set for a traditional Saturday afternoon kick-off.
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Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
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Kick-off time: 3pm BST
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Venue: Stamford Bridge
Where to watch
Supporters in the UK will not be able to view the game live due to the 3pm blackout, but highlights and live coverage will still be available across platforms.
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TV channel (UK): Not televised live
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Highlights: Sky Sports app and YouTube (from 5.15pm); Match of the Day, BBC One (22.30pm)
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Live blog: Follow all the action with expert analysis on Standard Sport’s live blog
Prediction
Chelsea’s injury list and patchy form leave them vulnerable, and Brighton have enjoyed recent success against the Blues by winning twice in one week last season.
However, the Seagulls’ away record this campaign has been poor and Chelsea’s unbeaten home run in the Premier League could prove decisive.
Expect a tight game with both sides finding the net, but Chelsea’s home advantage might just tip the balance in their favour.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Brighton
