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
March gets the second half underway for Brighton.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
Substitution Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta Édouard Osoque Mendy
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
Brighton have been a level above Chelsea all over the pitch today. The visitor's back three has not been protected at all by the midfield and are being outnumbered constantly by Brighton's front four and full-backs. There will need to be a tactical change from Potter if Chelsea want a result in this game.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
Brighton started the game at an incredible pace and forced Silva into two clearances off the line before Trossard opened the scoring in the fifth minute. He rounded Kepa before shooting past Cucurella on the line. Loftus-Cheek then scored Chelsea’s first own goal of the half after turning home March’s corner in the 14th minute. Sanchez was forced into some brilliant saves, the most notable being from a Gallagher header, but Brighton soaked up the pressure and then struck a third before the break as Chalobah turned Estupinan’s cross into his own net.
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