Chelsea were without Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro for their vital Premier League trip to Brighton, with news of their absences leaked on social media hours before kick off
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella before the game with Brighton
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella before the game with Brighton
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Chelsea suffered a double injury blow for their must-win game at Brighton - and the team news was leaked by Marc Cucurella’s BARBER.
England star Cole Palmer and Brazil forward Joao Pedro were both missing for a crunch game for under-pressure boss Liam Rosenior.
But, incredibly, the news came out in the morning of the match in a post on social media from Cucurella’s barber. The barber wrote: “Palmer & Joao Pedro both injured. There’s your exclusive” alongside a picture of Cucurella apparently having his hair trimmed.
A Twitter post from "riley @Rileyeagles_" announcing "Palmer & Joao Pedro both injured tonight" with a photo of a modern living room and dining area, taken from behind a person with curly dark hair. The account has since been deleted, but grabs of the post have gone viral across social media.
Incredibly, the news was later confirmed with neither player in the match day squad. It is not the first time Chelsea have faced a problem with team news being leaked this season.
In both the home and away matches against PSG, team news was leaked by a mole before Liam Rosenior claimed the leak came from someone external to the club, not a player.
This time, the leak appears to have come from closer to home. Chelsea have been contacted for comment and will be asked to respond after the game.
The account has since been deleted, but grabs of the post have gone viral
The account has since been deleted, but grabs of the post have gone viral
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Chelsea had to field a starting line-up with Liam Delap, who hasn’t scored in his last 20 matches and Pedro Neto, who hasn’t scored in the Premier League at all in 2026. They also used a back three defence for only the second time this season.
And it took just three minutes for Brighton to take advantage of the changes with Ferdi Kadioglu putting the Seagulls in front. The Blues came into the game having lost four league games in a row to all but end their hopes of securing a place in next season's Champions League.
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