Brighton v Chelsea: FA Cup fourth round – live

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Here’s a message from Matt:

“Evening man, hope for your sake it’s a fun game.

The squad tonight is a clear endorsement of the Sporting Directors’ unerringly-forward-looking transfer policy and not at all the result of a bunch of overpaid gilet-wearers ego sparring over their respective signings. I think poor old Moises is going to have to cover a lot of ground.

Thanks in advance for all your hard work tonight, it’s very much appreciated.”

We’ve got a response from Jeff:

“Fair dos I suppose, but in November-December he seemed a certainty for player of the year accolades, even by my own untrained eye … Now not so much. Obviously he was carrying them then, when they were doing well, and is probably carrying them now, I guess the question is, is he now not carrying them quite so much? Or at least, has he developed a slouch. Please excuse me for this nonsense, have a good game pal!”

I hear you, Jeff. I think the players around him need to step up. It will be interesting to see how Christopher Nkunku performs in a rare start. Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho should also add a few goals to their tallies.

Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku (centre) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Carabao Cup third round match at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA

We’ve got mail from Jeff:

“Hullo Xaymaca! So Cole Palmer, are we allowed to say he’s gone off the boil yet?”

Palmer’s been quieter than usual in his last couple of games. Quiet for Palmer is two goals in five games and a decisive cross-shot in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over West Ham on Monday. Let’s see how he performs today.

Cole Palmer lies on the Stamford Bridge turf in Chelsea’s game against West Ham on 3 February 2025. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

The teams

Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk, Georginio, Minteh, Welbeck, Baleba, Mitoma, Van Hecke, Veltman, Hinshelwood

Subs: McGill, Webster, Gruda, João Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Gómez, Ayari, O’Riley

Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall, Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Nkunku

Subs: Jorgenson, Colwill, Anselmino, Acheampong, Samuels-Smith, Amougou, Fernández, George, Madueke

Today's FA Cup results

• Coventry 1-4 Ipswich

• Everton 0-2 Bournemouth

• Leeds 0-2 Millwall

• Leyton Orient 1-2 Man City

• Southampton 0-1 Burnley

• Wigan 1-2 Fulham

• Stoke City 3-3 Cardiff City (Cardiff won 4-2 on pens)

• Wigan Athletic 1-2 Fulham

• Preston North End 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers (Preston North End won 4-2 on pens)

Birmingham City v Newcastle United is 2-2 at St Andrews.

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Brighton v Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round. Tonight’s game is the first of a Brighton v Chelsea double bill at the Amex Stadium, with the two sides facing each other again in the league on Valentine’s day.

The home side will be keen to bounce back after their humiliating 7-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the league. The Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler said: “We still think we are on a good path and one game shouldn’t define our season or our whole team.”

Brighton will need a big performance to beat Chelsea. Chelsea have won their last four games against the club, starting in September 2023 after the Clearlake Capital consortium spent £225 million on Brighton players and coaching staff. Chelsea haven’t looked entirely convincing as of late, scraping past West Ham in their last league game, so tonight’s match is an intriguing one.

Stay tuned for updates. Kick off is at 8pm. Email me your predictions.