Chelsea thrashed Grimsby Town 7-1 in the EFL Cup in their last game as a handful of young players took to the field.

It was a morale-boosting result for the Blues following back-to-back defeats in the Champions League and then the Premier League, losing 1-0 to Valencia and then 2-1 to Liverpool.

They host a Brighton & Hove Albion side that are winless in their last four games in all competitions and without a league win since opening day.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the game against Brighton.

Emerson Palmieri

Status: Out
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: October 19 (vs. Newcastle United)

Frank Lampard has insisted that the left-back will not be rushed back after suffering the recurrence of an injury and will most likely return after the next international break.

Antonio Rudiger

Status: Out
Type of injury: Groin
Possible return date: Unknown

The centre-half suffered a setback as he was forced off at half time in the 5-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in which he was making his return. It is unclear how long it will be before he is back.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Status: Out
Type of injury: Achilles
Possible return date: November 2 (vs. Watford)

While Callum Hudson-Odoi returned to the fray against Grimsby, Loftus-Cheek is still over a month away from making his own comeback. He could be back on the pitch at the beginning of November.

Marco van Ginkel

Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown

The midfielder has been struggling with a severe knee injury and, following complications in his corrective surgery, no timescale has been placed on his return.

Andreas Christensen

Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: September 28 (vs. Brighton)

The Dane took a blow to his knee in the defeat against Liverpool and was not involved at all against Grimsby. It is not thought to be serious, however, and the defender could return to the squad against the Seagulls.

Olivier Giroud

Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Illness
Possible return date: September 28 (vs. Brighton)

The French striker missed the defeat to Liverpool through illness and also sat out the EFL Cup tie against Grimsby. However, that period of rest could be long enough for him to make his way back to the bench against Brighton.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea have no suspended players for this match.