Chelsea Edge Brighton in Seven-Goal Thriller
Chelsea beat Brighton 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, with three first-half goals including a Romeo Lavia opener after a defensive mix-up. Joao Pedro scored for Chelsea and then an own goal for Brighton, while Cole Palmer sealed the win. Pascal Gross scored a late consolation for Brighton.
Romeo Lavia's opening goal was his first for Chelsea in his 46th appearance since arriving from Southampton for an initial £53 million in August 2023. The Belgium midfielder has rarely completed a full match for the club, but with Moises Caicedo carrying a minor injury and Enzo Fernandez facing a potential transfer, Lavia has started both league games under new manager Xabi Alonso. He was substituted before full time again, with the 90-minute mark still eluding him.
Chelsea's defensive concerns persist despite the attacking display. The club finished last season with a 16-game run without a clean sheet, and they have now conceded five goals in two league matches under Alonso. New goalkeeper Emi Martinez was called into action repeatedly, while Brighton's late goals came from Malick Yalcouye, a Joao Pedro own goal, and a Pascal Gross header in added time.
This result could signal a shift in Chelsea's trajectory under Alonso, offering early evidence that the club's attacking investment is paying off. For Brighton, the narrow defeat may raise questions about defensive organization against top-tier opposition. The match's seven goals could also influence how neutral fans perceive the Premier League's entertainment value this season, potentially drawing more casual viewers to a competition increasingly defined by high-scoring, unpredictable fixtures.