Chelsea vs Brighton Report

Scorers: Palmer 21, 28 (P), 31, 41’; Rutter 7’, Baleba 34’

Cole Palmer became the first player in Premier League history to score four first-half goals in a single match, leading Chelsea to a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. The win handed Brighton their first league defeat of the season and propelled Chelsea to third in the standings.

Chaotic First Half: Palmer Shines and Brighton Fight Back

The match kicked off with high drama as Chelsea found themselves in trouble early on. A mix-up at the back involving former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sánchez allowed Georginio Rutter to head into an open net, giving Brighton a quick lead.

Chelsea responded quickly, with Palmer making his presence known by hitting the post and having a goal ruled offside. However, Palmer soon capitalised on a defensive error from Adam Webster to net his first Stamford Bridge goal of the season.

Brighton’s high defensive line continued to leave them vulnerable, allowing Chelsea to find numerous attacking opportunities. Jadon Sancho had a chance to score his first goal for the Blues, but it was ruled offside.

Shortly after, Sancho played a key role in winning a penalty by drawing a foul from Carlos Baleba. Palmer confidently converted the spot-kick, marking his 10th Premier League penalty for Chelsea and giving the Blues the lead.

Palmer was far from done, completing his hat-trick just 10 minutes later with a superb long-range free-kick. However, Brighton responded quickly as Baleba intercepted a loose pass from Sánchez and found the net to reduce the deficit.

Sánchez redeemed himself shortly after by making two crucial saves from Baleba, while Noni Madueke came close to adding a fourth for Chelsea. Nevertheless, Palmer found another opportunity to restore Chelsea’s two-goal cushion, slotting home a snapshot after yet another defensive lapse by Brighton.

Second Half: Chelsea Dominate but Brighton Hold Firm

Despite having just 36% possession in the first half, Chelsea remained on the front foot after the break. Nicolas Jackson came close to extending the lead when he rounded Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen, only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Webster.

The hosts continued to pepper Brighton’s goal, with Palmer narrowly missing out on a fifth goal after a volley flew over the bar and another effort drifted wide.

A calmer period of play ensued before Jackson once again narrowly missed a scoring opportunity. Former Brighton defender Marc Cucurella thought he had added to Chelsea’s lead with a header from a corner, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Jackson continued to be the focal point of Chelsea’s attack but was unable to convert his chances, though his missed opportunities did not affect the outcome of the match as Chelsea secured a quieter second half and a comfortable win.

Chelsea’s Climb and Brighton’s First Loss

The victory lifts Chelsea to third in the Premier League standings, just one point behind leaders Manchester City. Brighton’s unbeaten start to the season comes to an end, leaving them in eighth place.

The Seagulls’ away form remains a concern, with just two wins from their last 16 Premier League away matches (D6, L8).

Key Moments

• Brighton’s Early Goal (5′: Georginio Rutter capitalises on a mistake by Sánchez to put Brighton ahead.
• Palmer’s First Goal (15′): Cole Palmer opens his Stamford Bridge account after an Adam Webster error.
• Palmer’s Hat-trick (25′): A long-range free-kick from Palmer puts Chelsea firmly in control.
• Baleba’s Response (32′): Brighton capitalise on a Sánchez mistake to cut the deficit.
• Palmer’s Fourth (35′): Another defensive lapse from Brighton allows Palmer to score his fourth goal of the half.

Conclusion

Cole Palmer’s historic performance guided Chelsea to a thrilling win, showcasing their attacking prowess and resilience. Brighton, meanwhile, will look to recover from their first defeat of the season and address the defensive issues that led to their downfall at Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea v Brighton, 2024/25 | Premier League