Chelsea extended Xabi Alonso's perfect start as manager with a thrilling 4-3 Premier League victory over Brighton on Sunday. The match at Stamford Bridge saw a dramatic back-and-forth, with both teams scoring multiple times. An early goal by Romeo Lavia and efforts from Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro gave Chelsea a 3-0 lead after 32 minutes. However, Brighton fought back with goals from Malick Yalcouye and an own goal by Joao Pedro, forcing a tense finale.
The win was highlighted by a standout performance from the home side's front three—Palmer, Pedro, and Rogers—who contributed to five of Chelsea's seven goals this season. Despite the excitement, defensive issues persisted, with new goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez unable to fully address the team's problems. The result keeps Chelsea in the title race, but questions remain about their long-term stability.
Joao Pedro's wild celebration after scoring against his former club Brighton drew criticism from an ex-Brighton player. Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo's early exit raised concerns about his fitness ahead of the next match. The match underscored both Chelsea's attacking prowess and defensive vulnerabilities under Alonso's management.
