Chelsea’s recent woes seemed set to continue as they faced a formidable Brighton side at Stamford Bridge this morning. Brighton had only experienced one defeat in six Premier League rounds, making them a tough adversary on Chelsea’s home turf.

From the opening whistle, Brighton asserted their dominance in the game, adhering to the football philosophy of their manager, Roberto de Zerbi. They kept Chelsea pinned in their own half, creating numerous opportunities but struggled to breach Robert Sanchez’s goal. Striker Joao Pedro managed three shots but failed to find the target, while Kaoru Mitoma, who had an off day, completed only one out of four dribbles.

Despite Mitoma’s recent dip in form, Marc Cucurella deserves praise for his performance. Playing out of position at right-back against his former team, Cucurella displayed exceptional effort. Although he gave Chelsea fans some heart-stopping moments in the first half, he turned in a rock-solid second-half display, making crucial contributions to preserve The Blues’ lead.

Cucurella’s defensive efforts, including ball recoveries and three key passes, contributed to Chelsea’s stability. His passing accuracy stood at an impressive 91%, and he won three out of five duels. Cucurella’s contributions, along with those of Caicedo, bolstered Chelsea’s defense. On the offensive front, young talent Cole Palmer earned plaudits from coach Mauricio Pochettino for his intelligent playmaking.

When the ball found its way to Palmer, Brighton’s defense had to work tirelessly to contain him. After a series of attempts, Palmer made his mark by providing the assist that allowed Jackson to score. Palmer’s stellar performance may see him earn more opportunities in the near future, as Chelsea seeks a conductor to unlock their high-priced forwards. The 21-year-old’s qualities make him a reliable choice for the task.

In summary, Chelsea’s recent victory not only reignited their title aspirations in the domestic league but also provided much-needed relief following a string of disappointing results.