Chelsea vs Brighton – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Blues search for crucial win plus updates from the other 2pm games as Liverpool take on Fulham while West Ham face off against Crystal Palace
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Chelsea host Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League plus updates from the other 2pm kick-offs including Liverpool vs Fulham.
Iraola believes Villa will demand a 'good level' from Bournemouth
Ahead of Bournemouth’s clash against Aston Villa, Andoni Iraola belives his side will need to be on top form to beat today’s opposition.
‘I think we have been much better recently. We need a good level today because the opposition will demand it.
‘They are playing really well and have good forwards but I think we are in a good moment and have players who can damage them. I have faced Unai Emery a lot, especially as a player, and it’s going to be a tough challenge.’
Mauricio Pochettino rips into his 'soft' Chelsea stars
Mauricio Pochettino gave his Chelsea team the hair dryer treatment following their 4-1 defeat by Newcastle.
It was a disappointing defeat for Pochettino’s side with the manager revealing he ‘told truths’ to his players after the match.
Will his strong words give them a bit of extra motivation today?
Bournemouth v Aston Villa team news
Unai Emery has made seven changes to his team that beat Legia Warsaw in the week.
Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz and John McGinn are the only three players to keep their place in the starting line up.
Villa XI: Martinez, Carlos, Konsa, Luiz, McGinn, Tielemans, Watkins, Digne, Torres, Zaniolo, Bailey
Subs: Olsen, Cash, Moreno, Lenglet, Diaby, Duran, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Iroegbunam
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have brought Milos Kerkez into defence for Lloyd Kelly, who misses out due to injury.
Bournemouth XI: Neto, A Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez, L Cook, Christie, Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier, Solanke
Subs: Travers, Mepham, Brooks, Rothwell, Ouattara, Sinisterra, Moore, Traore, Billing
Joel Matip reaches Premier League milestone
After joining Liverpool back in 2016, Joel Matip will today make his 150th Premier League appearance.
Speaking to Sky Sports on reaching the milestone, Matip said: ‘I didn’t know this before so thanks for this. Hopefully a few more will come.
‘Everybody likes to play as a football player and in december and january you can make the best of it.’
On today’s opponents he added: ‘Great team. We have to be there from the beginning. We cannot give them anything and hopefully it will not happen.’
West Ham vs Crystal Palace team news
Jarrod Bowen returns to the starting line up for David Moyes’ side after missing their last two games with an injury sustained during the international break.
He’s not the only change to the squad, with Konstantinos Mavropanos replacing Kurt Zouma.
West Ham XI: Areola, Emerson, Aguerd, Mavropanos, Coufal, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Paqueta, Soucek, Kudus, Bowen.
Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.
Roy Hodgson has also made three changes to his side for todays match, with all of Chris Richards, Jordan Ayew and Will Hughes coming back into the side.
Crystal Palace XI: Johnstone, Mitchell, Guehi, Andersen, Ward, Lerma, Richards, Hughes, Olise, Edouard, Ayew.
Subs: Matthews, Whitworth, Tomkins, Franca, Mateta, Clyne, Ebiowei, Ahamada, Riedewald.
Liverpool vs Fulham team news
Joel Matip makes his 150th Premier League appearance today as Liverpool take on fulham.
Jurgen Klopp has made three changes from their side that drew to Man City last weekend.
Allison is oout with an injury, with Diogo Jota also absent. Caoimhín Kelleher and Luis Diaz come in to replace them. Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch comes in to replace Curtis Jones.
Fulham make three changes from their team that beat Wolves, Willian drops to the bench along with Tom Cairney and Timothy Castagne.
Joao Palhinha returns alongside Kenny Tete and harry Wilson.
Brighton team news
Roberto De Zerbi has also made several changes to his side that played against AEK Athens in midweek.
Jaoao Pedro is omitted from the side with Ferguson set to lead the line for the Seagulls. Jan Paul van Hecke also comes into the side along with Carlos Baleba.
Chelsea team news
Mauricio Pochettino has made several changes to his Chelsea teamt to take on Brighton today.
In defence Axel Disasi comes in for Marc Cucrella while Levi Colwill replaces the suspended Reece James.
Moises Caicedo comes in for Lesley Ugochukwu while Mykhailo Mudryk starts in attack in place of Conor Gallagher.
Pochettino reveals he had a one-on-one meeting with Moises Caicedo
Amid his inconsistent recent form, Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he had a one-one-one meeting with Moises Caicedo in a bid to help the Ecuadorian improve his form.
Pochettino said: ‘Before this press conference, he was in my office for twenty minutes. It is easy because we speak Spanish. It is a subconscious process and that is a problem – only in time can you adapt.’
Will the Ecuadorian start today? Find out in just a moment as we’ll have all the latest team news from each club coming up next!
And Fulham are in the house at Anfield!
Fulham are interestingly without a win against teams who begin this weekend’s fixtures in the top half of the Premier League table.
But Liverpool will need to expect Fulham to battle right to the end, with Marco Silva’s side having scored eight of their last nine Premier League goals in the second half of games this season.
Gakopo at the double!
Cody Gakpo scored a brace of goals during Liverpool’s 4-0 win against LASK in the Europa League on Thursday.
The Reds are in decent fettle at the moment, but will be hoping for more consistency having won just two of their last five matches across all competitions.
Despite that, Liverpool will be buoyed by their 1-1 draw against Man City last weekend at the Etihad and Klopp will be looking for more of the same this afternoon.
In their past five meetings, Liverpool have only been beaten by Fulham once, with the Merseyside club winning two of those five fixtures, drawing the rest.
Fulham, meanwhile, come into this match off the back of a dramatic 3-2 win against Wolves, which saw the Cottagers be awarded a last-minute penalty by VAR – a decision which has been vehemently slammed by Wolves boss Gary O’Neil this week.
A peek inside Chelsea's dressing room…
Winless in their last two matches, Chelsea come into today’s clash at Stamford Bridge 11th in the table and needing a win.
Mauricio Pochettino admitted this week that he gave his players the hair dryer treatment after their 4-1 defeat by Newcastle, but they face an equally stern test today against Brighton.
In their last five meetings, Chelsea and Brighton have beaten eachother twice, drawing their only other game.
But the Blues have only won one of their last five league matches and trail their visitors by six points.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side, in stark contrast, haven’t lost in their last five outings.
But Brighton have suffered several injury blows this season, and will be without Ansu Fati and Tariq Lamptey for some time.
Will Jarrod Bowen start today?
The West Ham forward has been out of action for the past two games after picking up a minor injury during the last international break.
We’ve just seen him walking down the side of the pitch with his West Ham team-mates and it’s a good sign that the England star could be ready to make his comeback from injury.
Bowen has been pivotal for the Irons this year, scoring nine goals in 16 appearances across all competitions.
While West Ham have won both of the games he has been absent for, they come up against a tough Crystal Palace team today, who are gunning to end a two-match losing streak.
Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to our live blog for this afternoon’s Premier League matches!
We’ve got a big day of action coming up with four games kicking off at 2.00pm this afternoon.
Chelsea are hoping to undo the disappointment of their 4-1 defeat by Newcastle last week as they host Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
Brighton come into the match off the back of a good run of form, with the Seagulls having not lost in their last five outings across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also in action this afternoon as they welcome Fulham to Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side sealed a 4-0 win against LASK in midweek, while Fulham come into this match off the back of a 3-2 win against Wolves that has sparked plenty of discussions around VAR.
West Ham are also back in action this afternoon against London rivals Crystal Palace, with Jarrod Bown eyeing up a potential return from injury.
And lastly Bournemouth host high-flying Aston Villa, as the Cherries look to claim their third win on the bounce.
Stay with us as we’ll have all the latest news, reaction and commentary from this afternoon’s matches.
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