Chelsea continued their perfect start under Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) Xabi Alonso says his Chelsea side will do ‘whatever it takes to win’ and will look different for their Premier League clash with Arsenal next Sunday. The Blues continued their perfect start to life under the Spaniard with an entertaining 4-3 win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge. The hosts raced into a three-goal lead after just 32 minutes through goals from Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro, but, just like last week’s win against Fulham, allowed their opponents back into the game. Malick Yalcouye’s strike and an own goal from Joao Pedro either side of half-time brought Brighton back within one goal before Cole Palmer’s superb strike saw Chelsea eek out a narrow win. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Three wins from three marks a great start for Alonso, but his side were far from perfect, having just 26 per cent possession against Brighton and frequently carved open by Fabian Hurzeler’s side. Chelsea will face a huge test of their credentials next weekend at the Emirates against the defending champions Arsenal, but Alonso is confident that his side can evolve and stand up to the test. ‘I want to win and will whatever it takes to win,’ the Spaniard said in his post-match press conference. Chelsea beat Brighton to move third in the Premier League (Picture: AP) ‘Each game can be different so we need to prepare for the best. ‘We need to train for the best and be prepared for whatever scenario we have, so it’s not like this [performance] is going to be replicated against Arsenal. ‘Today it was a big challenge and a big test and next Sunday it’s going to be a big one but we can continue progressing on the good things and correct the other ones that we can do better.’ Alonso also pushed back against the notion that his side were complacent after going ahead, insisting: ‘No, I would say it is quite normal. @flemingben Are Xabi Alonso’s side ready to take on Arsenal? 🤔 #premierleague #chelsea #colepalmer ♬ original sound – Ben Fleming: Sports Journalist ‘It happens in many teams, other teams that they have already worked for and they are together and they have more games together. ‘Normally this idea, how to manage those moments is already more good. We are in this process. So I am sure that this result in the future we can manage it better because in the Premier League, even in half-time we were 3-1 and I said guys, 2-0 lead, with two goals lead in the Premier League, it is not done. ‘We need to still focus on playing, scoring goals, defending well and after we could have scored the fifth one and many things happened in the game.’ Cole Palmer scored the winner for Chelsea (Picture: Reuters) And on his side’s lack of possession against Brighton, he asserted: ‘No, you need to have context to every data for sure. ‘After 30 minutes we have scored [to make it] 3-0, probably in that moment we have played too much with the result instead of keep playing. ‘So the data is not important, it is how you play and what we can do better. But it is never that approach, I don’t say today we need to have 60 per cent or 20 per cent. ‘I never talk about those things, it is about how to prepare, how to be more competitive. But the good thing is that you need to adapt, even during the game there are different moments and some moments that we have done really, really well and other moments that we can do better.’ Chelsea currently sit third in the table, but could be leapfrogged by Arsenal should Mikel Arteta’s side beat Aston Villa on Monday night. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Sir Alex Ferguson is at Old Trafford to give his support to his beloved Manchester United, but is doing so injured.
Chelsea fans were heard chanting Xabi Alonso’s name as the Blues defeated Brighton 4-3 at Stamford Bridge in a seven goal thriller, maintaining their perfect start to the 2026/27 campaign. The victory provided another impressive demonstration of the attacking football Alonso is implementing in his first season as Chelsea manager, with the home supporters responding […] The post Sky Sports man reveals what Chelsea fans were heard chanting vs Brighton after ‘devastating’ performance appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Enzo Fernandez has been omitted from Chelsea's matchday squad for the second time in just four days, as speculation over his future at Stamford Bridge intensifies amid Manchester City's interest.
Joao Pedro was Chelsea’s standout player against Brighton, according to Darren Bent (Picture: Sky Sports) Darren Bent picked out Joao Pedro for special praise following Chelsea’s 4-3 win over Brighton, claiming the forward was the best player on the pitch ‘by a distance’. Chelsea had looked to be cruising towards a comfortable victory as Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Pedro all got on the scoresheet inside the opening 32 minutes at Stamford Bridge. But the visitors pulled a goal back through Malick Yalcouye on the hour-mark before Pedro directed the ball into his own net against his former club to further reduce the deficit in the 63rd minute. Xabi Alonso’s men rallied again, though, and a solo piece of brilliance from Cole Palmer restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage with 16 minutes remaining of normal time in west London. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Pascal Gross’ deflected strike deep into stoppage time ultimately proved a consolation for the travelling Seagulls, with Chelsea holding firm to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Premier League after two games. The result saw the Blues rise to third, behind newly promoted Hull City and top-of-the-table Manchester City on goal difference. Watching back Pedro’s 32nd-minute strike in the Sky Sports studio, ex-England and Tottenham striker Bent said: ‘Really good finish. Pedro shone at Stamford Bridge against his former club (Picture: AP) @flemingben Are Xabi Alonso’s side ready to take on Arsenal? 🤔 #premierleague #chelsea #colepalmer ♬ original sound – Ben Fleming: Sports Journalist ‘Morgan Rogers was at the heart of it, he starts it, then it’s Hato with a really good run. ‘It’s the first touch out of his feet and then back across the goalkeeper. ‘He was the best player on the pitch, Joao Pedro, by a distance. Martinez made his full Chelsea debut in the match (Picture: Getty) Palmer scored what proved to be the winner for the Blues (Picture: EPA) The touch out of his feet, opens up the whole goal, goes back across the goalkeeper… it’s a really, really good finish.’ On Pedro’s goal, Bent continued: ‘Absolutely incredible. It’s Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro involved. ‘It’s the little touches from Joao Pedro and when he drives into this position there’s only going to be one outcome. Pedro has kicked off the new season in incredible form (Picture: Getty) ‘He could lay it to the left but he doesn’t. The power and the accuracy he gets on it. ‘It’s a great run, the turn of pace, that little drive into space… he opens up his body and it’s fantastic finish. ‘[Bart] Verbruggen was absolutely nowhere near it. Fantastic finish.’ It proved a memorable first outing for Emiliano Martinez following the goalkeeper’s transfer move from Aston Villa only hours earlier. The Blues moved to third with the victory (Picture: Getty) Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the final whistle, the Argentina international heaped praise on Chelsea’s front three of Pedro, Palmer and Rogers. ‘A win is a win. I know it wasn’t a perfect game,’ he said. ‘But in the end, winning and moving on is what we need. We’ve got 36 games left and it’s one week after another. ‘I am here for a reason. The front three is amazing. When we go forward, we can hurt teams. ‘We had a lot of chances to finish the game. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro had chances to kill the game. At the back, we need to bring the goals down.’ Chelsea will look to continue their winning start when they return to action in what promises to be an explosive London derby away to Arsenal in a week’s time. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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