Graham Potter,
Brighton vs Chelsea | The former manager of Brighton, had a dreadful comeback at the Amex Stadium as Chelsea were defeated thanks to own goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah.
Despite Kai Havertz’s goal, the Blues were three goals behind at halftime and hardly looked like mounting a comeback. Pascal Gross’ injury-time goal added salt to Chelsea’s wounds after Havertz squandered a late opportunity to make it 3-2.
Thiago Silva
Brighton vs Chelsea Thiago Silva had already twice saved the visitors by heading off the line, once after his own error, by the time Leandro Trossard gave Brighton the lead after only five minutes.
The opening came through yet another Silva mistake. Kaoru Mitoma passed the ball to Trossard after the Brazilian lost possession of it. Trossard then circled goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and shot past two Chelsea defenders.
On the 14th minute, Loftus-Cheek attempted to clear a corner from Solly March, but instead sliced the ball in off the underside of the bar, doubling Brighton’s advantage.
And things got worse for Potter’s team right before the break when Pervis Estupián received a pass from Moises Caciedo and delivered it into the six-yard box, where Chalobah pushed the ball into his own goal.
However, Chelsea, who had been undefeated under Potter, kept making mistakes at the opposite end.
After getting mixed up with Silva, Eduoard Mendy, who took over for the injured Kepa at halftime, sent the ball directly to Mitoma.
To the pleasure of the home crowd, who booed Potter, Gross tapped in the loose ball after Mendy had stopped Julio Enciso.
Afterward, Potter said, “I had no expectations (of the level of response he would receive).”
“I have nothing for which I should apologise. I performed well. You can see that the Brighton team is a strong one. When I came charge, they were in the Premier League’s bottom four.
Chelsea’s starting lineup is as follows: Kepa (Mendy 45), Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella, Sterling (Aubameyang 63), Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Gallagher (Ziyech 79), Mount, Pulisic (Broja 79), and Havertz.
Jorginho, Zakaria, Azpilicueta, and Hutchinson were not substitutes.