Chelsea Edge Brighton 4-3

The update

Chelsea held off a Brighton fightback to clinch a thrilling 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge, continuing their winning start under manager Xabi Alonso. The Blues raced into a three-goal lead through Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto, and Joao Pedro before Brighton responded with goals from Malick Yalcouye and Pascal Gross, with the latter deflecting off Joao Pedro. Cole Palmer’s superb strike in the closing stages proved decisive, as Pascal Gross’s late header was too little too late.

Why it matters

This victory marks Alonso’s second consecutive Premier League win, following his previous victory over Fulham. The result demonstrates Chelsea’s attacking prowess under their new manager while also highlighting defensive vulnerabilities that could be tested against stronger opponents. The Blues have dispatched Fulham and Brighton, setting up an intriguing test against Premier League champions Arsenal next.

What to watch

Chelsea’s next major test comes against Premier League champions Arsenal on September 6. The team will look to address defensive concerns while maintaining their high-scoring form. Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer have now scored in consecutive matches, suggesting a promising attacking partnership. Additionally, Moises Caicedo had to come off injured soon after coming on for his first appearance of the season, which could be a concern for the manager.

Sources

• skysports.com — match details and goal descriptions
• AFP — manager's winning start and upcoming fixture information