BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea Manager Mauricio Pochettino has come out this evening to explain why Cole Palmer was not involved in Chelsea’s win against Brighton yesterday.

Mauricio Pochettino has made two changes from the Chelsea side that were beaten by Newcastle United for his team’s match against Brighton this afternoon. The big news is that Cole Palmer is starting today’s game from the bench.

Palmer has been one of the Blues’ strongest performers in recent weeks so the news that he is benched has come as a bit of a shock to many. And Christopher Nkunku is not included in the match day squad despite some hope after Pochettino’s comments on Friday.

Mykhailo Mudryk comes into the side in a rare start for the Ukrainian. Mudryk starts for the first time since the draw with Arsenal on October 21.

He is one of four changes to the side that were beaten at Newcastle last weekend. Marc Cucurella and Reece James are both suspended, so Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill come in for the defensive duo

Lesley Ugochukwu drops out of the side with Moises Caicedo returning to the lineup. And Palmer on the bench for Mudryk is the final change for Pochettino.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Gallagher, Caicedo, Enzo; Sterling, Mudryk, Jackson