Chelsea – Brighton & Hove Albion: Chelsea Finish Off Brighton After Significant Early Lead In A Game That Shouldn’t Have Been As Close (4-3)

Chelsea flew off the blocks to an early three-goal lead in the first half but allowed Brighton back into the game. However, Cole Palmer scored the fourth & Xabi Alonso’s Blues rode off the Brighton wave to see out the game as Martinez made his Chelsea debut in goal.

Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan.

Xabi Alonso’s tenure as Chelsea manager is well and truly under way. In his first Premier League home game as Blues boss, Alonso saw his Chelsea side fly off the blocks to gain an early three goal lead inside the first thirty-five minutes. However, ceding possession after their significant lead allowed Brighton back into the game.

The Blues started in spectacular fashion as Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro fired Chelsea into a 3-0 lead inside the first thirty-five minutes. The Blues hit dangerously on the break, being direct & decisive after turnovers to delight the Stamford Bridge faithful romping to a 3-0 lead early on. But Brighton pulled one back soon after in the first half as Malick Yalcouye volleyed into the Chelsea net after the ball broke kindly to him, despite new Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez making a crucial stop.

The sides went into half-time with the score at 3-1. But after the break, Chelsea ceded possession to Brighton who then scored after confusion in the box led to Joao Pedro scoring an own-goal. But Chelsea’s talisman Cole Palmer was on hand to turn the tides again as he broke away and finished with a flourish after brilliant solo play to make . . .