Chelsea’s torrid run of form continued with a 3–1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, a result that leaves Enzo Maresca under mounting pressure.
For the second consecutive Premier League game, the Blues finished with 10 men, with Trevoh Chalobah’s dismissal in the second half completely swinging the momentum.
It all started brightly at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Fernández’s header gave Chelsea a deserved first-half lead after Reece James’s cross was deflected into his path.
The Blues dominated possession, created chances, and looked in full control heading into the break. But that dominance counted for little once they were reduced to 10 men.
Brighton took full advantage of the numerical superiority. Danny Welbeck’s late brace and Maxim De Cuyper’s stoppage-time strike completed a comeback that exposed Chelsea’s fragility once again.
Maresca’s men are now on a three-game losing streak in all competitions, and the pressure on the squad to find stability is growing.
Here are the Chelsea player ratings vs Brighton:
Chelsea Player Ratings vs Brighton
Robert Sánchez – 5.5/10
The Spanish goalkeeper was rarely tested in the first half, commanding his box well and dealing with crosses. However, he was poorly positioned for Brighton’s equaliser and ultimately left exposed as Chelsea collapsed late on. He can’t be blamed entirely, but he’ll be disappointed with his contribution.
Reece James – 7/10
Chelsea’s best player on the day. His cross created the opener for Fernández, and he looked sharp going forward before the red card changed the game.
Defensively, he did his job, but as captain he was visibly frustrated watching his side unravel.
Trevoh Chalobah – 4/10
Initially composed, but his clumsy foul in the 53rd minute turned the match on its head. Denying a goalscoring opportunity left Chelsea with 10 men, and Brighton quickly exploited the extra space. An irresponsible decision that overshadowed his performance.
Jorrel Hato – 5/10
Calm in the first half, winning his duels and staying composed on the ball. But the red card rattled him, and he eventually made way for Badiashile. A forgettable outing for the 19-year-old.
Marc Cucurella – 4.5/10
Against his former club, Cucurella got forward well in the first half and delivered some dangerous crosses. However, once Chelsea went down to 10, he was repeatedly exposed defensively and struggled to contain Brighton’s wide players.
Andrey Santos – 5.5/10
The youngster looked neat in possession and tidy in the tackle, but his poor touch before Chalobah’s foul indirectly caused the red card. Subbed off before the hour mark, his day was one of promise marred by one costly mistake.
Moisés Caicedo – 6/10
Worked tirelessly in midfield and racked up interceptions, but he couldn’t cope once Brighton’s midfield had the extra man. His error led to Brighton’s second goal, capping off a frustrating outing against his old club.
Enzo Fernández – 7.5/10
Chelsea’s standout midfielder and their goalscorer. He was everywhere—winning duels, making tackles, and pushing play forward. His headed goal gave Chelsea hope, but he couldn’t drag the team over the line. Player of the match for the Blues.
Estêvão – 5.5/10
Showed flashes of creativity in the first half and worked hard defensively after the red card. However, his decision-making in the final third was poor, and he lacked composure with his shooting.
Pedro Neto – 6/10
Bright and dangerous early on with his crossing, but his dribbling lacked sharpness. After the red card, he saw far less of the ball and couldn’t make the difference in attack.
João Pedro – 4/10
Once again disappointing. As Chelsea’s striker, he failed to register a single shot and often dropped too deep, clogging midfield spaces instead of staying central. His lack of threat up front cost the team dearly.
Josh Acheampong (54’) – 4/10
Thrown into a tough situation, Acheampong struggled badly. He lost all his duels and even made an error leading to a goal. A tough night for the youngster, though the circumstances were far from ideal.
Malo Gusto (63’) – 4.5/10
Added energy when he came on, winning a few duels and helping defensively. However, he offered little going forward and could not change the tide of the game.
Benoît Badiashile (79’) – 5/10
Returning from injury, he had little time to influence the match. He reacted to Brighton’s attacks but couldn’t help stem the late collapse. A small positive is his return to fitness.
Roméo Lavia (79’) – 5/10
Another returning player, Lavia looked tidy in possession and made two interceptions in his cameo. Encouraging to see him back on the pitch, but too late to affect proceedings.
