Chelsea 4-2 Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Post-match reaction, ratings
Today at 12:00 PM
WINNER WINNER PALMER MAKING HISTORY DINNER
Chelsea started confidently but instead of scoring early, this time we gave one up early by making a mess of a simple clearance in the 7th minute.
A relatively tame first 20 minutes then turned absolutely bonkers, with Chelsea repeatedly exploiting Brighton's high line. Palmer should've scored but hit the post, then scored but had it ruled out for offside, then scored for real after Jackson pinched an underhit backpass.
And then the m-m-m-m-madness of the next 20 minutes truly started. Sancho had a goal chalked off for offside, then won a penalty, which Palmer converted. Then Palmer completed his 10-minute hat-trick with a tremendous free kick into the top corner from 30 yards out. Then we gifted another goal to Brighton before Madueke missed a sitter and Palmer scored his fourth of the half.
Eight (8!) minutes of first-half stoppage time went by without incident before Chelsea resumed generating great chances at the start of the second half. Adam Webster saved at least two goals for Brighton, including a goal-line clearance from a Jackson shot.
The game settled down a bit after that, with both sides also making changes.
Cucurella then had a goal ruled out for yet another offside before Brighton started applying some pressure to make things interesting for the final especially as Jackson kept missing his chances.
But we were able to tighten up defensively and see out the two-goal advantage.
Carefree.
- Just one change from last weekend, with Malo Gusto coming back in for Tosin.
- Chelsea with 36% possession in the first half
- Palmer first player in Premier League history to score four before half-time
- Palmer's third (third!) hat trick for Chelsea already
- Welcome back, Roméo Lavia
- Welcome back to the top four!
- Next up: Gent in our first UEFA Conference League match
- KTBFFH
