Chelsea 4-2 Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Post-match reaction, ratings

Chelsea started confidently, but instead of scoring early, this time we conceded one early by missing a simple clearance in the 7th minute.

A relatively calm first 20 minutes then turned absolutely crazy, with Chelsea repeatedly exploiting Brighton’s high line. Palmer should have scored but hit the post, then scored but ruled it out for offside, then scored for real after Jackson pinched a back pass underneath.

And then the mmmm madness of the next 20 minutes really began. Sancho scored a goal for offside, then won a penalty, which Palmer converted. Then Palmer completed his 10-minute hat-trick with a superb free-kick into the top corner from 30 yards. Then we gifted Brighton another goal before Madueke missed a keeper and Palmer scored his fourth of the half.

Eight (8!) minutes of stoppage time in the first half passed without incident before Chelsea began to generate good chances again at the start of the second half. Adam Webster saved at least two goals for Brighton, including a goal-line clearance from a Jackson shot.

The game calmed down a bit after that, with both teams also making changes.

Cucurella then had a goal ruled out for another offside before Brighton began to apply some pressure to make things interesting for the final, especially as Jackson kept missing his chances.

But we managed to tighten up defensively and realize our two-goal advantage.

Carefree.

• Just a change from last weekend, with the return of Malo Gusto in place of Tosin.
• Chelsea with 36% possession in the first half
• Palmer is the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before half-time
• Palmer’s third (third!) hat trick for Chelsea already
• Welcome back, Romeo Lavia
• Welcome to the top four!
• Next meeting: Ghent in our first UEFA Conference League match
• KTBFFH

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