Chelsea return to Brighton in the Premier League with renewed determination to avenge their recent FA Cup exit, but a key challenge remains: the absence of natural striker Nicolas Jackson, alongside teenage Marc Guiu’s injury woes, has left Maresca’s side scrambling for a reliable centre-forward. In his post-match press conference, Maresca emphasised that while he remains optimistic about Jackson’s eventual return, he might need to adopt alternative tactical solutions in the interim. With a limited bench comprising only a few senior options in the attacking third, Maresca’s creative in-game management is now under scrutiny as he considers three different approaches to reinvigorate Chelsea’s attack.

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The first option is to retain faith in Christopher Nkunku as the primary centre-forward. Although his performances have been inconsistent lately, Nkunku’s track record—highlighted by an impressive scoring record during his time at RB Leipzig—suggests that, if he can adjust his tendency to drop deep, he could be a reliable option up front. Alternatively, Maresca could experiment with a new role for Cole Palmer, a player who has previously shown the ability to play as a centre-forward during his time in Manchester City’s academy.

However, moving Palmer from his preferred No.10 role, where he has already contributed 14 league goals and six assists this season, would be a significant gamble. A third approach would be to revert to the system used under Mauricio Pochettino last season, where Palmer was given licence to roam off the right flank. This strategy would still require Nkunku to lead the line but would aim to relieve the congestion in the No.10 area by having one of the wingers—potentially Pedro Neto—play in the inside-left channel to stretch Brighton’s defence. Each of these options presents its own set of risks and rewards, and Maresca’s decision in the coming days will be pivotal for Chelsea’s attacking prospects.

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