Chelsea edge Brighton 4-3 as Alonso maintains perfect start

Abdullateef Fowewe

Chelsea made it three victories from three matches under new manager Xabi Alonso after surviving a late Brighton fightback to win 4-3 in a pulsating Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Blues raced into a three-goal lead through Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and João Pedro, before Cole Palmer’s brilliant second-half strike proved decisive after Brighton threatened a comeback.

Lavia handed Chelsea an early advantage in the fourth minute when he capitalised on a defensive error, while Neto doubled the hosts’ lead 10 minutes later after being set up by Morgan Rogers.

João Pedro, facing his former club, made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute from Jorrel Hato’s assist, but Brighton responded three minutes later through Malick Yalcouyé to reduce the deficit before the break.

Brighton dominated possession for long periods and piled pressure on Chelsea in the second half.

The visitors got back into the contest in the 63rd minute when João Pedro inadvertently turned a Pascal Gross delivery into his own net.

However, Palmer restored Chelsea’s two-goal cushion in the 74th minute, firing home a fine left-footed effort after good work from João Pedro to make it 4-2.

Pascal Gross headed in a late goal deep into stoppage time, but Brighton could not find an equaliser as Chelsea held on for a dramatic victory.

The result marked Alonso’s first home Premier League win since taking charge and followed Chelsea’s 3-2 league victory at Fulham and their Carabao Cup win over Luton.

New goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made his Chelsea debut, while Palmer, João Pedro, Neto, Lavia and Rogers were among Chelsea’s standout performers in an entertaining seven-goal contest.