Chelsea 4-2 Brighton: Key Takeaways for the Blues in Victory
By Abdul Abdullahi
Cole Palmer put on a show for the ages, delivering a stunning first-half performance that saw him score four goals, guiding Chelsea to a 4-2 victory over Brighton and etching his name in Premier League history. Despite questions about his nine-year deal this summer, Palmer silenced doubters in just 45 minutes, leaving fans wondering if even that contract might not be long enough.
Brighton struck first when Blues’ keeper, Robert Sanchez, misjudged a high ball under pressure, allowing Georginio Rutter to head into an empty net just seven minutes in. Palmer was determined to turn the tide, hitting the post shortly after and having a goal disallowed for offside. But he soon got his breakthrough, slotting home after Nicolas Jackson pounced on an Adam Webster error.
VAR denied Jadon Sancho’s potential first goal for the Blues in the 23rd minute, but three minutes later, Sancho won a penalty that Palmer calmly converted. The 22-year-old completed his hat-trick with a stunning free-kick from what seemed like 30 yards out on the half-hour mark.
Brighton briefly fought back when Carlos Baleba seized on another Sanchez mistake, but Palmer wasn’t done, notching his fourth just before the break with a precise low finish. The second half couldn’t match the intensity of the first as Maresca’s boys lowered the tempo, but Palmer’s incredible display ensured this match will be remembered as his moment. Here are the Blues’ key takeaways.
Defensive errors overshadowed by first-half attacking brilliance
Let’s get the negative takeaway out of the way first. It’s tempting to get carried away, especially with Liverpool showing flaws, Man City missing Rodri, and Arsenal nearly slipping against Leicester. But Chelsea still feel just short of title contenders, mainly due to their defense. Despite a consistent lineup of Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, and Marc Cucurella in all six league games, they’ve struggled at times. A series of poor decisions led to Brighton’s first goal, with Sanchez at fault for the second. However, the defense did settle down in the second half, showing more composure, including ‘Rob’ Sanchez. The match felt like it was a Palmer vs Sanchez showdown rather than Chelsea vs Brighton!