Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Graham Potter suffered his first loss in charge of the Blues while Roberto De Zerbi picked up his first win in charge of the Seagulls
Graham Potter’s return to Brighton & Hove Albion turned into a nightmare when he suffered his first defeat since taking charge of Chelsea in a 4-1 loss in the Premier League on Saturday.
Potter left Brighton to succeed outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea last month, returning to the south coast to face his former employers for the first time complete with a nine-match unbeaten record in all competitions at his new club.
But the hosts made a blistering start at the Amex Stadium against Potter’s bewildered side, racing into the lead inside five minutes through a well-taken Leandro Trossard goal.
Breathless Brighton kept coming and soon had a quickfire second after Ruben Loftus-Cheek diverted a corner into his own net, with another own goal from Trevoh Chalobah making it three for Brighton three minutes before the interval.
Chelsea started well after the break and got back in it three minutes into the second half through Kai Havertz’s header, but the damage had already been done and Potter’s team could not rouse a comeback.
Pascal Gross’s last-gasp fourth goal capped a fine afternoon for Potter’s successor Roberto De Zerbi, with the first win of his reign moving Brighton up to seventh in the standings, while Chelsea stay fifth, eight points behind leaders Manchester City.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
WHAT A BLOCK! Silva gives away the ball deep in his own half, Trossard receives the ball from Caicedo and lobs Kepa. Silva manages to get back to his line and head it away!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
Havertz gets the game underway for Chelsea!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
The players are coming out of the tunnel and onto the pitch!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
This will be Potter’s first league meeting with Brighton since leaving the club for Chelsea in September. It is the earliest into a Premier League season (by date) that a manager has managed for and against the same team, with the previous earliest Brian Little in 1994-95 for and against Leicester City (December 3rd).
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
De Zerbi makes two changes from his sides’ defeat at Manchester City last week and Estupinan and Mitoma come in for Veltman and Welbeck. Potter also makes two changes from their win over RB Salzburg during the week as Aubameyang and Jorginho drop to the bench for Loftus-Cheek and Mount.
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