Chelsea self-destructed after a positive start to fall to a 3-1 defeat by Brighton at Stamford Bridge. The Blues came into the match in top gear, playing attractive attacking football and had Brighton pinned. Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring with a routine header after 24 minutes to open the scoring, but that was the extent of Chelsea’s joy on the day.
Brighton grew back into the game but could not trim Chelsea’s advantage before the break. Trevoh Chalobah was sent off early in the second half, though, and everything began to unravel. They clung on for another twenty minutes before Danny Welbeck pulled one back for the visitors. Maxime De Cuyper headed home a winner in injury time, before Welbeck added his second to complete the turnaround.
It has been a challenging week for the world champions, marked by injury woes and underwhelming performances, and the mood around Stamford Bridge is only set to grow dimmer. With Benfica visiting in the Champions League this week, Enzo Maresca has some tough questions to answer. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Brighton latest news
- GOAL! Welbeck adds a third
- GOAL! Brighton lead in injury time
- GOAL! Welbeck equalises
- RED CARD! Chalobah dismissed
- GOAL! Fernandez heads home
- Chelsea starting XI
- Brighton starting XI
FULL TIME: Chelsea 1-3 Brighton
17:02 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fall on their own sword and a dismal run goes from bad to worse.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:59 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea have collapsed in these closing minutes. They deserve to lose.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-3 Brighton | Welbeck '90+10
16:58 , Arthur FerridgeWelbeck adds one more for good measure as the home support stream towards the exits.
Chelsea 1-2 Brighton
16:55 , Arthur Ferridge90+7mins: Reece James goes to ground theatrically in the box, and Simon Hooper is not even a little bit interested.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-2 Brighton | De Cuyper '92
16:50 , Arthur FerridgeBrighton lead in added time! Ayari whips one to the back post, it is mixed back in and De Cuyper finishes. Chelsea have imploded!
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:48 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Hope you don’t have any evening plans - 11 minutes added on!
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:48 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: No penalty! What a let-off for Chelsea.
“No conclusive evidence,” say Stockley Park.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:47 , Arthur Ferridge88mins: Gusto will be lucky to get away with this. It has been a dreadful cameo from him today.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:46 , Arthur FerridgeProper brawl breaks out between both sets of players. Sanchez livid at Badiashile for getting involved. Meanwhile, a VAR check is underway and a penalty could be awarded to Brighton for a Gusto high foot. Breathless stuff at the end of a game that all started so well for Chelsea...
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:46 , Arthur Ferridge88mins: Considerable handbags after the fact, with Benoit Badisashile at the centre of it. In the background, a penalty check is bubbling away.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:45 , Arthur Ferridge87mins: There is a coming together between Gusto and Minteh after the Frenchman’s high boot. There are spirited calls for a penalty, but for now, Hooper does not point to the spot. For now...
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:44 , Arthur Ferridge85mins: VAR investigate and wave the appeals away, figuratively speaking.
Brighton use the break in play to replace Rutter and Gomez with Tzimas and De Cuyper.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:43 , Arthur Ferridge84mins: Gruda is down injured after contact from Caicedo. Claims for a penalty, but it is remarkably soft.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:41 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Minteh leaves a foot in on Sanchez after the Spaniard comes to claim a loose ball. Doesn’t seem to have been any malice in it, though, and we play on.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:41 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Chelsea win the ball back in the defensive third but dawdles on the break and is caught out. Brighton come again.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:39 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: Just ten minutes to go now. You wouldn’t expect this to finish level, the way things are going.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:37 , Arthur FerridgeBadiashile and Lavia coming on when the score at home is 1-1 is not a particularly positive look. Chelsea down to ten men, sure, but they have to believe they can win it.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton
16:37 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: Brighton win a corner but will take it after Chelsea make changes. Neto and Hato are replaced by fit-again Badiashile and Lavia.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Brighton | Welbeck '77
16:35 , Arthur FerridgeIt has been coming. Welbeck pulls Brighton level, heading home from Minteh’s cross.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:34 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Fernandez shoots from range, but drags it wide.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:33 , Arthur FerridgeRomeo Lavia is getting kitted out and might soon be introduced.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:32 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: Brighton have all the possession here, but are yet to inflict much pain on Chelsea. They don’t seem to have figured out how to make the most of this man advantage.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:29 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: Brighton are yet to have a shot on target in this match.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:28 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: Acheampong goes for a little dribble and a round of applause goes up from the crowd. It stops sharply as he is dispossessed and Rutter plays Minteh through on goal, but James gets there to make the all-important tackle and halt him.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:26 , Arthur Ferridge67mins: More changes for Brighton as Welbeck and Gruda replace Mitoma and Baleba.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:25 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: James shoots from a tight angle, and misses. Caicedo comes down in the aftermath but is given no foul. Brighton counter, and Pedro Neto somehow collides with Rob Sanchez. Both seem to be requiring treatment.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:23 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Neto was taken down at the edge of the box to win that free-kick. Chelsea have a free kick on the byline, to the left of Verbruggen’s goal.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:23 , Arthur FerridgeThis free-kick represents a chance for Chelsea, who know they are going to face some nervy moments in the final third of this match now they are down to ten...
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:21 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Malo Gusto comes on for Estevao. Curious change from Maresca.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:19 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: Estevao skips past one challenge before Dunk slides in with a sweet tackle to halt him in his tracks.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:18 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: Brighton are very much on top now. They have the momentum at their backs and will hope to take full advantage of that red card.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:17 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Chelsea win a free-kick high on the right, but cannot capitalise. Mitoma looks to break, but James, who seems to have shaken off the earlier ankle injury, tracks back to defend.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:15 , Arthur FerridgeReal need for some calm for Chelsea now, after that red card. It's a second league game in a row when a defensive player has been sent off following Sanchez's dismissal at Old Trafford. Making it hard for themselves but still in the lead. The job now is to protect it.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:13 , Arthur Ferridge55mins: Veltman is replaced by Wieffer as Brighton size up a free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:12 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: No better time for Josh Acheampong to make an impression!
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:12 , Arthur FerridgeRed card Trevoh Chalobah. Disastrous for Chelsea, whose only fit and available centre-backs for Benfica and Liverpool are now Hato, Badiashile and Acheampong. The options available to Maresca have HALVED over the last two days.
Acheampong is on for Chelsea, Santos off.
RED CARD! Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:10 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Simon Hooper takes a good hard look at the tackle, and Chalobah is dismissed. That is the last thing Chelsea need. Where do the Blues go from here?
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:09 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: The still of Chalobah going through the back of Gomez seems to be rather damning evidence. We await the decision. Hooper heads to the monitor.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:08 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: On viewing the replay, it looks clumsy from Chalobah. VAR are investigating.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:07 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: Santos is caught out at the back and Chalobah tracks back to make a crucial tackle on Gomez... but did he get any of the ball?
Howler from Santos.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:07 , Arthur FerridgeJames looked to be in some pain there. He is being led off the pitch by two medical staff members. Even if he does carry on, can't see it being for too long before he's replaced.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:06 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Enzo Maresca has a look of distinct concern on his face as he conferences with assistant coach Willy Caballero. James hobbles to the sideline as Malo Gusto is seen warming up.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:06 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: Seems to have landed awkwardly and twisted his ankle.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:05 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: James down injured and looks to be in considerable discomfort.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:05 , Arthur Ferridge46mins: Pedro is body-checked by Baleba in the centre of the park and Chelsea are provided an attacking launch pad. Fernandez comes forward and puts a cross in but it is cleared away.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:03 , Arthur FerridgeFabian Hurzeler is currently in the Stamford Bridge tunnel remonstrating with Simon Hooper and his refereeing team about the first-half incident when one of his players couldn't get a shot off because Hooper was stood in the way.
Hurzeler was fuming. Rest assured, he still is.
2ND HALF: Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
16:03 , Arthur FerridgeWe are back underway for the second 45, and Chelsea are carrying a narrow lead. This one could go either way yet.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:55 , Arthur FerridgeJorrel Hato has really impressed me in that first half. Composed on the ball, capable at splitting the back three in Colwill’s usual role when required, and sensible passing. Estevao bright, should release it quicker. Joao Pedro and Enzo positive.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:48 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea cannot capitalise on their late spell of possession, and take a one-goal lead into the break. A deserved lead, but a fragile one. All to play for in the second half.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:46 , Arthur Ferridge45+1mins: Chelsea are coming forward in numbers. Can they nick another before the break?
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:46 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Two added minutes.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:43 , Arthur FerridgeDunk heading over there is more than a bit of a let-off for Chelsea, who are just very rarely first to get their heads on the ball whenever the opponents send a free-kick delivery into the box, in recent weeks. They need to sharpen up on that before Benfica on Tuesday.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:43 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: A great delivery from the free-kick meets the head of Lewis Dunk, who heads over the bar.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:42 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Cucurella flies in on Diego Gomez and is booked for his troubles. Can’t really argue with the decision, to be honest.
Minteh will be licking his lips at the prospect of dribbling at a cautioned Cucurella.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:40 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Cucurella and Veltman come together. Some afters following a crunchy tackle in the Chelsea defensive third. That gets the crowd on their feet in the Westview stand.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:38 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Baleba drives again and plays Minteh into space on the right-hand side. He squares up to Cucurella and dribbles over the byline. Goal kick to Chelsea.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:38 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Joao Pedro comes together with Baleba and is down in a heap, but referee Simon Hooper is uninterested in his plight. The Brazilian is back on his feet, mind.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:36 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Fernandez tracks back to dispossess Kadioglu, who was jinking through the middle of the pitch.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:34 , Arthur FerridgeRobert Sanchez, what a grip. He has been claiming crosses very confidently throughout this first half. Important final 12 minutes of the opening half for them, this.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:33 , Arthur Ferridge33mins: Minteh gets free down the right again, and this time Chelsea double-mark him with Cucurella and Neto. He’s giving the Spaniard a proper headache.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:31 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: Ayari puts it into row Z.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:31 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: Some clumsy defending from the Blues, and another Brighton free-kick is set up in a dangerous area.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:29 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Neto counters at high speed, but drags his shot wide of the right post. Poor finish after a quality effort to get down the pitch so quickly.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:28 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Cucurella has his pocket picked by Minteh, but he recovers to block the cross. Corner to Brighton, which is taken short, crossed, and caught by Sanchez.
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
15:27 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: That is only the second time this season that Chelsea have scored first in the Premier League.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:26 , Arthur FerridgeLift-off for Chelsea and from an increasingly familiar source: Enzo Fernandez. James is a touch fortunate his low cross was deflected and looped above the Brighton defence.
There to nod in from almost on the line was Fernandez, who has been one of the Blues' better players in the first half of this first period. The lead they, on balance, deserve.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Brighton | Fernandez '24
15:25 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Fernandez opens the scoring for Chelsea! James gets into a pocket of space high on the right flank and the Argentine is there to head home from his heavily deflected cross, which dropped kindly at the back post.
I’ll take the credit for that one, call it commentator’s curse.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:23 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: Chelsea seem to have run out of steam a bit in attack. Quite poor not to have capitalised on that early dominance, particularly all those free-kicks and corners.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:22 , Arthur FerridgeQuite a bitty period of the game right now, with lots of stoppages. Chelsea trying to reassert their early rhythm in the sun. Joao Pedro proving key to carrying the ball forward.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:22 , Arthur Ferridge21mins: ‘No’ would be the short answer. Sanchez catches it and sets Chelsea off on the counter, but they are pulled back for a free-kick after Van Hecke ran into Sanchez. No advantage.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:21 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Estevao trips Mitoma, and now it is Brighton’s turn to try their luck from the set piece. Can they do what Chelsea haven’t been able to?
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:19 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: Minteh fizzes a cross over the Chelsea box, which runs behind for a goal kick.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:18 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: James lofts a cross to Pedro, but it is headed behind by someone in a yellow top for another Chelsea corner. They need to capitalise on one of these set pieces sooner rather than later.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:17 , Arthur Ferridge16mins: Dunk hauls Pedro down rather unceremoniously, and it is another threatening free kick for the hosts.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:16 , Arthur Ferridge16mins: Andrey Santos is getting himself into some good attacking positions here, as is Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:15 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: Another superb block from Van Hecke denies Estevao, who was fed through by Joao Pedro.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:13 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Estevao gets the better of Kadioglu with a skill move you will probably see clipped up on a highlight tape pretty soon, and he dashes goalwards. His shot is blocked by Van Hecke.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:12 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea playing some really good football here.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:11 , Arthur FerridgeAround the grounds, Palace have opened the scoring at home to Liverpool! Ismaila Sarr is the man responsible.
Across London at the Bridge, Chelsea are piling the pressure on Brighton, who are holding firm - for now.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:10 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: James shotos from the free kick, and it is another smart save from Verbruggen.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:09 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Kadioglu puts his body on the line to block Estevao’s curled effort. Later, Fernandez is taken down by Veltman, who is booked. He seems to have won the ball, in fairness. He’ll be feeling hard done by.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:07 , Arthur FerridgeSet-piece coach Bernardo Cueva the first to applaud as a Brighton attack is flagged offside.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:06 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Brighton’s first foray forward has Chelsea scrambling a bit, but they hold firm. Corner to the Seagulls.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:06 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Cucurella has a go from the edge of the box and Verbruggen is rooted, but the Spaniard didn’t quite get his foot all the way around it. His effort is narrowly wide.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:05 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Santos plays Neto in behind and he gets a shot away, but Veltman slides in to make the block. A second corner for Chelsea.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:04 , Arthur FerridgeGood free-kick by Fernandez after a bright start from Chelsea. The question, as ever, is whether they can capitalise.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:03 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Fernandez shoots from the free-kick and is denied by Verbruggen at full stretch.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:03 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Fernandez takes a tumble in the middle of the pitch, with Baleba the offender. Free-kick for the Blues about 25 yards from goal.
Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:02 , Arthur Ferridge1mins: Joao Pedro is subject to a no-nonsense tackle from Van Hecke. That might be the first of many for the former Brighton man.
KICK-OFF! Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
15:00 , Arthur FerridgeWe are underway at Stamford Bridge!
Not long to go now
14:50 , Arthur FerridgeWith 10 minutes to kick-off, here’s a reminder of today’s XIs.
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Estevao, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto; Joao Pedro
Brighton starting XI: Verbruggen; Dunk, Van Hecke, Georginio, Minteh, Baleba, Mitoma, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, Veltman
Maresca explains his selection
14:40 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca said he started Jorrel Hato at centre-back so as to rest Josh Acheampong.
“We gave so many games that as we have said many times we have to rotate. Hopefully he can do well and have a good game.
“All week Josh was ill. He did his first session two days ago with us. Now he is getting better, he is on the bench in case we need him, but there is another game on Tuesday and another game on Saturday.”
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:37 , Arthur FerridgeIt is a boost for these three games before the international break that Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are back available and in today's squad. Depth at centre-back and central midfield is sorely lacking right now. They could play important roles today, as well as against Benfica on Tuesday and Liverpool next weekend.
A fateful week in February
14:30 , Arthur FerridgeIf you can cast your mind back to February of this year, you will remember Brighton being the harbingers of Chelsea’s lowest point of the campaign.
The Blues travelled to the AmEx twice in six days, and were knocked out of the FA Cup before being beaten comprehensively in the Premier League.
They did win 4-2 at home in the League, though, with Cole Palmer scoring all four.
Which Chelsea will we see here today?
More from Dom Smith
14:20 , Arthur FerridgeAllow Standard Sport’s Dom Smith to talk you through today’s match from the Stamford Bridge press box.
🎙️ "Cole Palmer scored four goals in this fixture last year, but there is no chance of that happening today."@MrDomSmith previews today's match from the Stamford Bridge press box
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) September 27, 2025
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/ouM9vDZreX#CFC | #CHEBHA pic.twitter.com/uojcIFLg7m
Between the sticks
14:10 , Arthur FerridgeIt is no great surprise to see Robert Sanchez come back into the XI today after Filip Jorgensen’s calamitous showing against Lincoln in midweek.
Two minutes into that generally unconvincing showing, he concussed Wesley Fofana, which has not helped Chelsea’s injury situation at all.
Back to the bench for the Dane, then. Can Sanchez prove his worth again against his former club?
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:00 , Arthur FerridgeMaresca is forced to roll the dice and so he partners Jorrel Hato at centre-back alongside the near-ever-present Trevoh Chalobah, naming Josh Acheampong on the bench instead.
Enzo Fernandez is playing as the No10 in Cole Palmer's absence, and plenty of Chelsea fans will be pleased to see Andrey Santos remain in the starting line-up after his good showing against Lincoln.
Lots to unpack in that Chelsea squad
13:53 , Arthur FerridgeHow to cope with Cole Palmer’s absence? No great surprise that Maresca shifts Fernandez into the No10, with Pedro Neto and Estevao on either side.
Andrey Santos fills his place in defensive midfield.
With a dearth of fit central defenders, Hato and Chalobah will sit deep.
On the bench, Marc Guiu, and fit-again pair Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile return.
Just the four former Brighton players in the Chelsea XI.
BRIGHTON CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
13:47 , Arthur FerridgeAnd the visitors...
Brighton starting XI: Verbruggen; Dunk, Van Hecke, Georginio, Minteh, Baleba, Mitoma, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, Veltman
Subs: Steele, Gruda, Tzimas, Welbeck, Milner, Boscagli, Wieffer, De Cuyper, Coppola
CHELSEA CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
13:45 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca names his side to face Brighton.
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Estevao, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto; Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, Badiashile, Lavia, Gittens, Garnacho, George, Guiu
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