One way or another, Enzo Maresca is expected to make numerous changes to his Chelsea team for their return to Brighton on Friday evening.

The Blues slumped to a 2-1 defeat in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening down at the Amex Stadium and they return to the scene of the crime just six days later. Chelsea's form has not been great recently but the performance down on the south coast was particularly poor.

The defeat at the weekend means Chelsea's only realistic possibility of winning silverware this season is via the UEFA Conference League - with the Blues playing their Round of 16 tie next month. However, Maresca will be keen to ensure his side up their levels in the Premier League as they battle to secure a Champions League spot for next season.

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As it stands, the west Londoners occupy fourth-place in the table; two points ahead of Manchester City. They can extend that to five points on Friday night due to the way the fixtures are arranged with another trip to Brighton.

Maresca, though, is expected to make several changes to his XI given the below-par performance a few days ago. Below, Bobby Vincent talks you through the alterations he would make to the team.

Goalkeeper change

Filip Jorgensen has to come in for Robert Sanchez. The latter played in the cup - signalling that Maresca's mind may have been swayed in regards to who is his No.1 in the league. Sanchez's distribution against Brighton was poor and Jorgensen is waiting in the wings to come back into the XI.

Changes at the back

Reece James was left out of the squad to face Brighton at the weekend - a decision that sparked rumours over his fitness. The Chelsea captain's torrid injury record means supporters were left very concerned over his omission from the squad but Maresca insisted it was just to rest the right-back.

James should come back into the XI at the Amex in place of Malo Gusto, whose form this season has been subpar in comparison to last term. Elsewhere in defence, Levi Colwill is expected to return to the side after being rested against Brighton - where he once played on loan - with Tosin Adarabioyo the likely candidate to be replaced.

Fernandez returns

Enzo Fernandez was brought on in the second-half down on the south coast over the weekend. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had the opportunity to lay a marker down but the midfielder struggled to get going yet again in a Chelsea shirt.

Fernandez is set to return to the XI on Valentine's Day to partner Moises Caicedo. The Argentina international was at least looking to add some movement into what was a very stagnant attacking line at the Amex.

Roles changed in attack

Let's experiment a bit, shall we? Move Cole Palmer to the right wing. Why not? He more than enjoyed his football out there last season - and, this way, it would open up a spot in the No.10 role for Christopher Nkunku. Palmer played 19 times on the right wing in all competitions in the 2023/24 season and scored 11 goals from the flank, according to stats from Transfermarkt.

This of course is under the assumption - perhaps a dangerous one - that Nicolas Jackson will be back available for selection. Jackson was not in the squad at the weekend due to a minor muscular injury and his absence was truly felt, not least by Maresca.

"Yeah, sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are," the Italian explained. "We said many times about Nico: he is important on and off the ball. Off the ball, his intensity is very good and on the ball, he is always a threat."