Chelsea 1-2 Brighton: Player ratings as Blues dismantled on Lampard's homecoming
By Tom Gott
Frank Lampard's first game back at Stamford Bridge ended in tears as Chelsea were well and truly crushed by Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
The 2-1 scoreline suggested an air of competitiveness about a fixture in which Chelsea took the lead through Conor Gallagher but spent almost the entirety of the game fighting for their lives and ultimately came undone to goals from Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso.
The game got off to a fast start, with Alexis Mac Allister poking wide twice for the visitors and Lewis Dunk having to clear over his own crossbar inside the first eight minutes.
Evan Ferguson sent a beautiful effort crashing against the bar soon after, but it was Chelsea who took the lead against the run of play as Gallagher's strike from the edge of the box ricocheted off Dunk and beyond the desperate dive of Robert Sanchez after 13 minutes.
The visitors responded well and nearly equalised when Kaoru Mitoma danced his way past a handful of Chelsea defenders and into the box, but his low drive was well kept out by Kepa.
Kepa then had to pull out an excellent diving save to deny a Ferguson header, with Brighton boasting just under 70% possession on the half-hour mark but somehow still behind.
Ferguson picked up an injury with that effort and had to be replaced by Welbeck, who headed home a much-deserved equaliser just moments after coming on.
The two sides would enter the break level, but the stats sheet told a more accurate story. Brighton had 68% possession and boasted 12 shots compared to Chelsea's two, but the Blues were still hanging on.
It was the same story to start the second half, with Brighton carving through Chelsea but being thwarted by Kepa. Enciso struck the post on the hour mark and Welbeck skied the rebound, with the Seagulls comfortably on top.
Chelsea needed about 20 minutes to get out their own half but they did cause problems when they got there. Reece James' cross was palmed away by Sanchez, who got up well to deflect Gallagher's rebound.
The Blues were soon put back in their lane, however, as Enciso unleashed a sensational strike from range which roared into Kepa's top corner to finally but Brighton ahead.
A response never looked forthcoming from Chelsea, who barely laid a glove on the visitors here. Brighton ended with nearly 60% possession and 25 efforts on goal, with three points the least they deserved.
Chelsea player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 8/10 - The only reason Chelsea weren't four or five goals behind in the first half and ten or eleven by the final whistle. Excellent.
RB: Trevoh Chalobah - 3/10 - Ruined by Mitoma on a number of occasions apart from one excellent challenge midway through the first half.
CB: Wesley Fofana - 6/10 - Chelsea's best defender for the most part but did not cover himself in glory for the equaliser.
CB: Benoit Badiashile - 3/10 - A poor clearance for the equaliser but hadn't really inspired a lot of confidence before or after then anyway.
LB: Ben Chilwell - 3/10 - Seen arguing with Mudryk over positioning. Nowhere near his best at either end of the pitch.
DM: Enzo Fernandez - 5/10 - Chelsea's main creative outlet in midfield had a tough battle up against Caicedo. Usually came off second-best.
CM: Denis Zakaria - 3/10 - Offered nothing in the midfield battle and left Chelsea hanging on at the back at times.
CM: Conor Gallagher - 5/10 - Scored a scrappy goal and put himself about without ever really offering anything of real quality, and yet was probably still Chelsea's best attacker.
RW: Christian Pulisic - 2/10 - Largely uninvolved.
ST: Raheem Sterling - 2/10 - Didn't offer much but wasn't helped by Chelsea's determination to fire crosses in towards him.
LW: Mykhailo Mudryk - 5/10 - A fast start which yielded the assist for Gallagher's opener but faded as the game went on.
Substitutes
Mateo Kovacic (56' for Fernandez) - 4/10 - Didn't offer the sort of control asked of him.
Hakim Ziyech (56' for Pulisic) - 5/10 - Fairly uninspiring.
Reece James (56' for Fofana) - 5/10 - Not his usual self yet again but his introduction did at least coincide with a drop-off from Mitoma.
Joao Felix (56' for Sterling) - 5/10 - Rarely involved.
Mason Mount (74' for Zakaria) - 5/10 - A challenging cameo.
Manager
Frank Lampard - 3/10 - Prioritising the Real Madrid game is about the only thing Lampard got right here. Had absolutely no answer to anything Brighton were doing but kept his heavy hitters healthy for the game that really matters.
Brighton player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Robert Sanchez - 6/10 - Unconvincing when stopping shots but his elite distribution was a real asset.
RB: Joel Veltman - 5/10 - Booked early on as part of his failed efforts to contain Mudryk before being forced off through injury midway through the first half.
CB: Lewis Dunk - 7/10 - Barely had to get out of second gear to keep control of Sterling. A nervy moment on the hour mark but atoned for his own error.
CB: Adam Webster - 6/10 - Similarly comfortable.
LB: Pervis Estupinan - 7/10 - A ferocious force down the left wing. Played a real role in Brighton's dominance.
DM: Pascal Gross - 8/10 - Spent most of the game at right-back after Veltman's injury but his deep crossing, including for the equaliser, was sensational
DM: Moises Caicedo - 9/10 - Hounded Fernandez all game long and got the rewards. His pressing kept Brighton in control all game long. Disruptive and effective.
RM: Solly March - 8/10 - Picked up the assist for Enciso's glorious goal as part of what was an excellent showing.
AM: Alexis Mac Allister - 8/10 - Dropped deeper to replace Gross and pulled the strings as usual.
LM: Kaoru Mitoma - 7/10 - Tormented Chalobah with some sensational dribbling but his end product left a little to be desired. Quitened down after the break.
ST: Evan Ferguson - 6/10 - Injured himself late in the first half and saw his impressive performance brought to an abrupt end.
Substitutes
Julio Enciso (28' for Veltman) - 7/10 - What a goal.
Danny Welbeck (39' for Ferguson) - 7/10 - Scored almost instantly and led the line with real physicality.
Jan Paul van Hecke (86' for Webster) - N/A
Manager
Roberto De Zerbi - 9/10 - Tactically tore Chelsea apart from start to finish. Forced into two early substitutions and both players went on to score.