Chelsea vs Brighton outcome, ultimate rating and Premier League match report

No sooner had they bought their title push going once more, Chelsea have been stopped of their tracks. A Danny Welbeck header turned a obligatory three factors right into a meagre one within the 91st minute in what was as deserved a 1-1 as they arrive from Brighton and Hove Albion’s perspective.

Romelu Lukaku had given Chelsea a lead they held for 63 minutes, albeit with not a lot conviction. However having made it by way of regular time, and simply as ideas turned to occasions additional west the place Manchester Metropolis have been holding onto a 1-0 lead of their very own towards Brentford in an 8:15pm kick off, Welbeck hung within the evening sky and guided an immaculate header into the highest nook to earn Brighton a draw. Having bettered the defending European Champions on possession (52.4 per cent) and pictures on track (six to 5), they go away figuring out they themselves may have taken all three.

Most disappointing for Tuchel was that this outcome got here with a further price. Reece James went off after 27 minutes with a suspected hamstring subject. The wing-back, who has been Chelsea’s participant of the season thus far, had been working on the left, with Christian Pulisic adopting James’ regular place on the suitable. Then Andreas Christensen needed to be taken off at half-time after hurting his decrease again. Although the extent of any injury is unknown on the time of writing, it caps off a bittersweet ultimate week of 2021 after Thiago Silva and N’Golo additionally sustained accidents within the Boxing Day win over Aston Villa.

Kante was no less than on the bench on Wednesday evening. And the blow of shedding James was momentarily alleviated when Lukaku headed in Mason Mount’s nook simply as Marcos Alonso had taken to the sector.

The end itself – a header on the close to put up, powered into the bottom and nestling within the far nook – was crisp, nonetheless the occasions resulting in it warranted additional scrutiny from the VAR officers. Neal Maupay completed second finest as he tried to dam off Lukaku. After a couple of minutes, the objective was upheld because the Belgian’s jostle for room was deemed authorized.

This was Lukaku’s first begin since October, one thing he shared with Mateo Kovacic who got here in for Kante as considered one of 4 adjustments. Whereas the Croatian regarded rusty, Lukaku was imperious, selecting up the place he left off after a match-winning cameo within the second-half towards Villa with some immaculate hold-up play and the type of runs that ensured he was a nuisance to each member of Brighton’s again three. His fifth objective of the season, a second in as many video games, was the least he deserved.

Brighton, to their credit score, weren’t dulled by going behind after 28 minutes. They have been sometimes partaking, ending the primary half strongly with their first two pictures on track coming in fast succession: the second of which was a agency left-footed strike from Adam Lallana that required a pointy dive and agency fingers from Edouard Mendy.

A quirk coming into this fixture was that Brighton had by no means scored a objective at Stamford Bridge. Final season’s 0-0 draw was the truth is their first level in six visits to this a part of west London. However they arrived with a spring of their step, having overcome a droop with a 2-0 victory towards Brentford on Boxing Day and having solely misplaced as soon as on the street all season.

They have been additionally welcoming again Yves Bissouma from suspension to shore up their midfield as considered one of their three alterations. The 25-year-old was one of the best on present within the center third, and was integral to the wave upon wave of stress the guests unleashed within the second half searching for their equaliser. And it was no stunned when Tuchel responded on 67 minutes by bringing on Kante to wrestle again some management.

Up till the Frenchman’s arrival, the possibilities have been totting up for Brighton. Jakub Moder shinned over the bar firstly of the second interval, then Bissouma stung the finger ideas of Mendy with a strike from 30 yards. Neal Maupay wriggled free from Trevoh Chalobah (Christensen’s substitute) to fireside broad from the sting of the field earlier than he had a shot blocked by Antonio Rudiger after Alexis Mac Allister had dragged Mendy away from objective. Lallana then fired over from simply 10 yards that.

At occasions it felt like one-way visitors, however Chelsea ought to have doubled their lead on this interval when Callum Hudson-Odoi led a two-on-one counter assault solely to be outfoxed by Joël Veltman, who had positioned himself well, ultimately intercepting the cross meant for Mason Mount.

It was Hudson-Odoi’s final act, as he made method for Kante, and Chelsea, now bolstered with a three-man midfield, have been capable of dictate some phrases of their very own. A mixture of an additional man to bypass and fatigue meant Brighton’s passing was that little bit sloppier, permitting interceptions in their very own half and welcoming stress onto themselves.

However they didn’t veer from their methodology, and have been rewarded for endeavour with a objective that has severe repercussions within the title race. A transfer from left to proper not lengthy after the clock had ticked over to 90 minutes made its approach to Marc Cucurella on the left. His cross was hung up excessive sufficient and lengthy sufficient for Welbeck to match it with a sensational leap to information into the highest nook. Mendy was rooted to his spot.

There have been as many fingers on heads as yelps of pleasure as soon as Mike Dean blew the ultimate whistle after the 4 minutes of added time had elapsed. For Brighton, a results of this magnitude was additional proof of their price as Premier League furnishings.

Chelsea, in the meantime, are left to think about theirs as would-be champions. The factors dropped right here, coupled with Liverpool’s defeat on Tuesday night has pushed Manchester Metropolis additional into the ascendancy. And the defending champions are threatening to run away with it within the second half of the season simply as they did this time final 12 months.