Leading 3-0 after 32 minutes, conversations were had. About Chelsea being considered title contenders. About Arsenal being worried. About everyone else in the Premier League having a problem now that Xabi Alonso is shaping this side.
What they offer in front of goal is frighteningly good, of that there is no question.
Chelsea’s opening goal came from a corner which was fumbled by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and tapped in by Romeo Lavia, but Alonso immediately turned to congratulate his new set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee for how he set it up.
Their second arrived after Jorrel Hato’s throw-in was flicked on by Joao Pedro for Morgan Rogers. Out of nowhere, Pedro Neto burst into the box to finish Rogers’ pass for 2-0.
Their third was the consequence of a clever turn and pass from Rogers in his own half as Hato flew forward down the left-hand side, his speed and the accuracy of his pass inside setting up Joao Pedro for 3-0. The Brazilian did not quite copy Emmanuel Adebayor, but he made a point of celebrating directly in front of the Brighton fans after their taunts.
Chelsea were positively purring. With Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers, this ‘CPR’ attack appears title worthy, as good as any other going in the Premier League.
Chelsea bared their teeth against Brighton to score four goals – but they were leaky at the back
The Blues cannot simply rely on outscoring the opposition every match if they want to be serious title contenders
Entertaining as it is, however, Chelsea cannot rely on outscoring the opposition every week in order to challenge at the very top. What followed was a reminder of why we are all right to have our reservations about a 2026-27 title charge.
It is at the other end where question marks have remained. Chelsea have tried to help correct those vulnerabilities by bringing in Emiliano Martinez for £7.5million from Aston Villa.
Robert Sanchez’s performance at Fulham in the Premier League’s opening weekend forced Chelsea into this rethink. It was painfully obvious they would not stand a chance of rivalling Arsenal if they did not at least try to upgrade. It was not only the two avoidable goals he conceded in that 3-2 victory. Sanchez even dribbled the ball out of play for a corner at one stage.
Chelsea rushed through their signing of Martinez. The goalkeeper, who turns 34 in a few days, had to be registered before Friday 12pm in order to be eligible to face Brighton. He was officially announced on Sunday morning, then he started in the afternoon, with 21-year-old Mike Penders on the substitutes’ bench and Sanchez told he is up for sale.
Martinez played well overall, particularly considering this was his first appearance since the World Cup final, which Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain.
Yet Chelsea’s defence was unable to withstand the pressure from Brighton, who scored twice.
Their first was from a counter-attack which Neto should have killed early on when the ball was there to be tackled. Brighton flew forward. Martinez initially stopped Charalampos Kostoulas by smothering his attempt, but Malick Yalcouye volleyed in the rebound, with a little luck involved as it smacked the woodwork on its way in.
Xabi Alonso is toasting two wins from two in the Premier League after also beating Fulham
Their second came from a corner which was worked short. Palmer did not keep up with the run of Pascal Gross, whose cross took a wicked deflection off Joao Pedro to beat Martinez.
Chelsea wound up winning because of their attack. Palmer’s finish was fabulous, and Alonso’s technical area could no longer hold him, as the Blues boss jumped in the air and pumped his fist at the fans. That strike gave Chelsea enough daylight that Brighton’s stoppage-time header from Gross was merely a consolation. However, if Alonso’s side are to mount a surprise title challenge, then they need to be as tight at the back as they are free-flowing up top.
