ALBION have been told they are about to face the best player in the Premier League.

But a man with a foot in both camps reckons they might make life uncomfortable for another of the top flight’s major powers.

Gary Chivers played for both Albion and Chelsea.

He now works at both clubs on matchdays – and refers to them both as “we”.

Chivers enjoyed Chelsea’s 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Manchester City on Saturday.

Just as he revelled in Albion’s midweek derby success over Crystal Palace.

He expects to see Chelsea line up at the Amex in the 4-3-3 boss Maurizio Sarri used to beat City.

He would not be surprised if they again opted against using a recognised No.9 in Olivier Giroud or Alvaro Morata.

Ad he knows Eden Hazard could cause havoc – just as he did when Chelsea ran away with a rather flattering 4-0 success at the Amex in January.

Chivers will study a team sheet with interest when they are passed around in his hospitality lounge.

Just as he did at Stamford Bridge before the City game.

He said: “If Sarri is as superstitious as most managers, he will play the same team. That’s what I think.

“Against the Albion with Dunk and Balogun at the back, I think those two like playing against bigger strikers.

“So he could go again with Hazard as a false No.9.

“I will be interested to see how Chris (Hughton) goes up against them.

“We (Albion) have been playing ever so well.

“It was a setback at Burnley but we have had some great results.

“The win against Palace was incredible.

“I like the look of Florin Andone. He has got pace and he looks the real deal.

“They have uncovered a gem. He looked good on the ball, confident, skilful and very aggressive, which I like to see.

“One thing Brighton have got is the support the home crowd gives, which is fantastic.

“The way they have got the Albion over the line in some games has been brilliant.

“I’m not trying to be corny about this but they have been the extra man.

“Even with ten against Palace, they were superb.”

If Chivers has it right, Hazard will lead the Chelsea attack with Pedro and Willian up there with him.

But how do you deal with the brilliant Belgian?

Chivers said: “When you haven’t got the ball you detail a player to stick with him.

“You have to press him and nullify him.

“If you let him move and roll like he does, he will destroy your team.

“I think he is the best player in the Premier League.

“If your team have got the ball, then go and join in.

“But, without the ball, detail someone to stay on him.”

If there is a reason for hope for Albion, it is that Chelsea have been more inconsistent of late than their lofty league position might suggest.

Chivers said “A couple of weeks ago everything was going fine.

“We had played bottom-half teams or mid-table teams.

“All of a sudden we came up against a Tottenham side who we always did well against.

“And we were absolutely battered.

“They took us apart and it was a wake-up call for Chelsea.

“We played at home to Fulham and did quite well (winning 2-0).

“Then we went to Wolves, went 1-0 up and lost 2-1.

“Against City, we played with no centre-forward and, for 20 minutes, it was all City.

“But it was an outstanding performance. People who hadn’t been playing so well stepped up.

“People like David Luiz, who had had a couple of iffy games.

“If you have eight or nine players at the top of their game, you will win the match. Chelsea had all 11 that day.”

Albion fans will remember the meeting last season as that in which Hughton rolled the tactical dice in a way we had not seen before and have not seen since.

He went with three at the back (all big men, too, in Connor Goldson, Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy).

And he employed Ezequiel Schelotto and Markus Suttner as wing-backs in a formation widely listed as 3-4-2-1.

Hughton wanted to combat wing-backs Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso.

Did it work? We will never really know because Chelsea scored twice inside ten minutes..

But what we know is that no one caused Antonio Conte’s men more trouble at the back that day than Schelotto, marauding down the right.

Things have changed. Sarri has regularly gone with a back four this season and Chivers expects that to remain the case.

But it is not totally different.

Marcos Alonso is still there, now asked to play as a more orthodox left-back.

He still has the attacking instinct Albion fans first saw way back in 2012-13 when he scored the winner against them for Bolton at the Reebok.

Chivers said: “Marcos Alonso likes to get forward and sometimes there can be space on that side.

“Ngolo Kante was influential against City.

“Instead of going forward he was staying back and he’s the best player in the world in that position.

“Although Kante scored, he dropped deeper than he has been and it was an incredible performance.

“Sarri brought back David Luiz and he was possibly man of the match.”

Chivers will have plenty to talk about before the game on Sunday.

And he hopes that remains the case after the contest.

He said: “I’m hoping for plenty of goals. I’d love to see a 2-2 or a 3-3, even as an ex-defender!”