Here is a combined XI consisting of Chelsea and Brighton players ahead of their Premier League clash on Saturday.
Even if you are absolutely rubbish on the pitch, spending hundreds of millions will still get you five spots in a combined XI against an overachieving side that are genuinely fun to watch. Who knew?
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
Robert Sanchez has gained plenty of plaudits over the years but has lost his starting spot to 32-year-old Jason Steele, who has performed adequately but does not get in ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga, which is perhaps a tad controversial as he is not the most reliable ‘keeper in the world…
Kepa has performed at a decent level this season with Edouard Mendy now warming the bench. Surely Todd Boehly will buy a new goalkeeper this summer? It’s about time he got his chequebook out, the stingy so-and-so.
RB: Reece James (Chelsea)
One of two Chelsea players who comfortably get in this team, Reece James has not been himself since returning from injury but is still an excellent right-back.
Chelsea’s preferred formation is a back five and Brighton have played that frequently this season – though Roberto De Zerbi has reverted to a 4-2-3-1 in recent weeks – but in order to fit in all of the best players, this will be a 4-3-3 with the cheeky inclusion of a false nine, which ironically doesn’t suit any of the defenders here.
CB: Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Will Lewis Dunk ever get a move to a ‘bigger club’? Will he ever return to the England set-up? He probably deserves both, but whether it will happen is a whole different battle for the experienced centre-back.
Dunk has been a top professional during his time on the south coast and his consistency and leadership have been huge contributing factors to Brighton’s incredible campaign.
CB: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Chelsea have been absolutely horrendous this season, yet three of the first four players in a combined XI with high-flying Brighton happen to play for the Blues.
Saying that, Thiago Silva has not been one of the shambolic performers under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and now Frank Lampard. He returned to the team against Real Madrid and probably wishes he was still injured.
LB: Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)
This was a decision that was chopped and changed a few times before the nod was given to Pervis Estupinan ahead of Baba Rahman. It was a close call, but the Ecuadorian just got in.
Jokes aside, Ben Chilwell probably would have been picked if it didn’t give Chelsea a numerical advantage in this XI, which would make literally zero sense given the club’s contrasting seasons. That takes nothing away from Estupinan, who has been fantastic in his debut season at the Amex.
DM: Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
What a brilliant player this guy is. It is no surprise Arsenal tried to buy him for £70million in January. Chelsea are in the race to sign Caicedo this summer with Liverpool and Man Utd also interested.
CM: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
The most expensive player in British football history, Chelsea splashed out around £107m to finally land Enzo Fernandez on deadline day in the winter transfer window.
While he has not exactly set the world alight with his performances, he has been very steady and looks like he will be a top player. And it is absolutely massive that anyone can be described as steady in this Chelsea team.
Enzo Fernández created more chances against Real Madrid (2) than the rest of the entire Chelsea team combined (1).
They”ve got Enzo in the middle… and nothing else. 🙃#UCL pic.twitter.com/MlsAeD7zdw
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 12, 2023
CM: N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Injuries have ravaged N’Golo Kante’s career in recent years, but he remains a world-class midfielder and is probably worth the huge salary with his contract set to expire this summer, even if he will miss 20-plus games per year.
RW: Solly March (Brighton)
Arguably Roberto De Zerbi’s biggest success story at the Amex, Solly March has been absolutely outstanding this season and was damn unlucky not to receive a maiden England call-up in March.
Nobody saw this run of form coming and it is a testament to the man that he is in this team ahead of Raheem Sterling, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Noni Madueke, Christian Pulisic and every other big-money forward at Stamford Bridge.
F9: Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
Does Alexis Mac Allister play as a false nine? No. Could he? Probably. That’s enough for us then.
Like Caicedo, the 24-year-old is going to be highly sought after this summer and is very likely to leave, with the Ecuadorian’s future a lot less certain. Brighton reportedly want at least £100m for the World Cup winner, which is a ludicrous amount of money. But should the Seagulls qualify for the Champions League, they are well within their rights to ask for that sort of fee.
READ MORE: Mac Allister and Chelsea duo feature in Liverpool’s ten best alternatives to Jude Bellingham
LW: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)
Did you know Kaoru Mitoma is quite literally a student of the game? Oh, you did? Fair enough. Moving on then…
The Japanese winger has been one of the biggest surprises of this Premier League season. His dazzling dribbling has left defenders dazed and confused and he has shown an eye for goal as well, going from super sub to one of the first names on the Seagulls team sheet.