Chelsea vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result, latest updates and fan reaction
Chelsea finally recorded a win over bogey side Brighton in their first Premier League home game of the season. Xabi Alonso made an encouraging start to life as new Blues manager, overseeing wins over Fulham and Luton in hi opening two matches in charge, though a much sterner test was expected on Sunday afternoon as Brighton had won the last four meetings between the sides, including a league double last season.
With Emi Martinez making his debut just hours after his £7.5m transfer from Aston Villa was confirmed, Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening 31 minutes with Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro all on target.
However, Malick Yalcouye and an own goal from Joao Pedro gave Brighton hope before Cole Palmer scored what proved to be the winner as Pascal Gross headed home a consolation in stoppage-time to complete the scoring in a seven-goal thriller in west London. Follow Chelsea vs Brighton back below with dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Oli Gent at Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea continue winning start
Chelsea’s winning start to life under Xabi Alonso continued with a pulsating 4-3 win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
It was another display of electrifying attacking football that should have had the game won inside half-an-hour, goals from Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro putting the home side into a three-goal lead that was then almost dismantled by a brave Brighton fightback and their own clumsy defending.
Malick Yalcouye crashed in his first goal for the Seagulls, beating goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on his debut, then Joao Pedro’s own goal had Chelsea teetering on the edge of an embarrassing collapse on the hour.
As often before in such circumstances, they turned to Cole Palmer. He took matters into his own hands to take the game away from the visitors and send Alonso racing down the touchline in celebration, bulldozing through midfield to lash in his team’s fourth.
Oli Gent at Stamford Bridge
There we have it. A final suckerpunch, but too little, too late for it to really trouble the scorecards. Chelsea are victorious, but their defensive frailties remain...
Oli Gent at Stamford Bridge
Just a smidge of consolation for the visitors as Gross plants a superb header from the edge of the box beyond Martinez, who will be furious at the concession of a third on his debut.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-3 Brighton | Pascal Gross '90+5
90+5 min: Pascal Gross with a powerful header to reduce the deficit.
90+3 min: Vuskovic heads wide from a Brighton free-kick and that should be that.
Oli Gent at Stamford Bridge
Here we go... Barco comes on for the injured Caicedo, and the visiting supporters hurl boos and expletives at the Argentine.
81 min: Concern for Chelsea as Caicedo is being forced to come off. Barco is his replacement.
Massive worry that as the midfielder had only just come on.
80 min: Brighton have not given this one up just yet as Kostoulas is inches away from connecting with a teasing cross.
Here comes a double change with David and Costinha replacing Kostoulas and Wieffer.