Match report: Chelsea 4-2 Brighton | News | Official site

The game started at a fast pace – a sign of things to come – and it was Brighton who scored the first goal early on when Georgino Rutter headed home after a scramble in the penalty area.

From then on, Palmer stole the show. For a short while it looked like it was going to be one of those days where Cole hit the post and one went disallowed – as did Jadon Sancho – but there was still work to be done.

Within 10 minutes, Palmer scored a hat-trick, slotting in from a pass from Nicolas Jackson before scoring a penalty – awarded for a foul on Sancho – and a stunning free-kick. Brighton threatened to make things interesting by conceding a goal, but then Palmer became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League game, completing an incredible 45 minutes.

Things calmed down after the half-time break, although Cole continued to have fun and Jackson went close a couple of times, but there were no further additions to the scoresheet after the break, although Marc Cucurella had a goal disallowed for offside and Adam Webster had an attempt cleared Jackson off the line.

The selection

Enzo Maresca returned to his Premier League lineup in midweek after a series of changes. The only difference from the win over West Ham United in our last league game was that Malo Gusto came on for Tosin Adarabioyo at right-back, Wesley Fofana moved inside with Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella played on the left.

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo remained in midfield behind the attacking trio of Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho, while Nicolas Jackson kept his place up front.

Early setback

It wasn't the start Chelsea had hoped for. After a tentative opening with some promising attacks from both teams going nowhere, a sudden scramble in the Blues box ended with Brighton taking an early lead.

It appeared the danger had passed when Caicedo sent in a low cross, but Colwill was knocked down as he cleared it and the ball flew into the air. Cucurella was sandwiched between two Brighton players and Sanchez got to strike but couldn't make it as Rutter's header flew off Colwill off the line and into the net.

There was a long wait after the goal as both Cucurella and Rutter were treated for head injuries, but there was no sign of VAR intervening, leaving the visitors in the lead.

Sanchez was called into action again and showed great reflexes to block a cross from Danny Welbeck which was viciously deflected towards goal. It was a worrying start from a Brighton side who showed plenty of attacking intent.

If you don't succeed at first

We couldn't have come any closer to an equalizer than Palmer's try in the 20th minute. The pass was slightly behind him on the final line, but the England international's first touch was brilliant, taking him into space, and he fired a delicate finish past the goalkeeper, but the ball bounced back off the right post.

Palmer actually had the ball in the net just seconds later, again after putting a ball in the back from Fernandez, but this time the offside flag was raised to deny him after he beat Verbruggen one-on-one.

With his third attempt in as many minutes, Palmer finally got his name on the scoresheet. Jackson deserves much of the credit for putting Adam Webster under pressure and taking advantage of his weak back pass before unselfishly equalizing. This time there was nothing to deny Palmer as he fired into an empty net.

We could have even taken the lead a few minutes later when Madueke was the next to backfire and set up Sancho to score, but replays showed Noni was inches offside so that was ruled out too.

The Cole Palmer show begins

This now hectic first half continued at pace as we had now got to grips with Brighton's high defensive line and ruthlessly set about the task of exploiting it.

However, it was the penalty spot that gave Chelsea the edge at the Bridge. The visitors could hardly complain as Sancho was clearly overwhelmed by Carlos Baleba as he attempted a one-two with Fernandez.

There was no question about who would take it, nor about the outcome. Palmer stepped forward and sent the ball into the bottom left corner with minimal effort.

Even in this crazy phase of the game, more should happen. Chelsea were furious when Madueke was brought down by Pervis Estupinan as he appeared to go wide, especially when the defender was only shown a yellow card.

They weren't completely let off the hook, however, as Palmer continued his masterstroke by curling the free-kick perfectly into the top corner. Exactly 10 minutes after his first goal of the game, Cole completed his hat trick.

Fast and Furious

The pace of the game showed no signs of slowing down but unfortunately it was Brighton who were next to score, scoring as Baleba beat Caicedo and Sanchez slotted in a loose pass from behind to score.

The opportunities continued to show no signs of diminishing. Sanchez needed strong hands to keep out a long-range shot from Baleba, Madueke hit the side netting after a good shot in the box, then Verbruggen was just quick enough off his line to prevent Madueke's low cross from sending Sancho to the goal tap at the back post .

Neither the sixth goal before half-time was surprising, nor was the identity of the goalscorer. This time it was Fernandez who intercepted a wayward pass from Brighton in a dangerous area. Sancho's resulting through ball was perfectly weighted and Palmer's finish was even better as he beat Verbruggen low at the near post for the first time.

That meant it was a first half that belonged to Chelsea and Palmer, with the striker scoring four goals in the same Premier League game for the second time in seven months, having done so in the 6-0 win over Everton in April had done. This time, however, he scored all four goals in the first half, a feat that no player in the competition had ever achieved before.

The calm after the storm

Surely the two teams couldn't keep up this frantic pace for another 45 minutes? Would the situation calm down after the break? It didn't look that way when Jackson stung Verbruggen's palms a minute into the second half. The striker went even closer moments later when he took the ball around the goalkeeper, but Webster came back to clear off the line.

Webster was at it again, hitting a pass from Madueke under the crossbar as three Blues lined up at the back post to score as Chelsea began to take control of the game in the second half and keep the pressure on Brighton .

However, there were no further additions to the scoresheet after an uncharacteristic miss from Palmer in a one-on-one 15 minutes into the second half. Amazingly, it was the longest we had gone without scoring in the game and a clear sign that things would get a little easier in the second half.

Jackson tried again after being released by Palmer, but Lewis Dunk recovered in time and blocked. For a moment it seemed as if Cucurella had scored against his former club when he netted from close range from a corner, but for the third time today the offside flag prevented a goal.

Jackson got closer and closer to a goal, this time sending a low cross from Pedro Neto just wide, but he missed it before being replaced by Christopher Nkunku. Also coming off the bench was Romeo Lavia coming back from injury as Chelsea grew increasingly comfortable with our two-goal lead and Brighton tired towards the end.

What's next?

The Blues have two more home games coming up in quick succession this week, starting with the visit of Gent for our first Conference League group game on Thursday evening at 8pm. On Sunday at 2 p.m. we welcome Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella (Veiga 70); Caicedo, Fernandez (Lavia 79) (c); Madueke (Neto 63), Palmer, Sancho (Mudryk 70); Jackson (Nkunku 79)
Unused subs: Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Mudryk, Joao Felix
Booked: Fernandez 29, Cucurella 33, Fofana 78
Scorer: Palmer 21, Pen 28, 31, 41

Brighton (4-3-3): Confidence; Kadioglu (Minteh 71), Dunk (c), Webster (Igor 57), Estupinan; Baleba, Hinshelwood (Enciso 71), Wieffer (Ayari 57); Rutter, Welbeck (Ferguson 81), Mitoma
Unused Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Samuels, Moder
Scorer: Rutter 7, Baleba 34
Booked: Dunk 27, Estupinan 29

Referee: Peter Bankes

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