Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Chelsea
As Premier League games go, this is what is often described as a ‘free hit’.
For Brighton that is.
On the back of six points from their last nine and sitting comfortably in 13th place, it was widely accepted anything they could gain from the high-flying aristocrats of West London was a bonus.
In the end, however, the contest went the way most SBOBET fans and Premier League 2018 betting odds expected as one man showed his undoubted class.
Highlights of the game
Fresh from their best win of the season against the side which took their champions crown, there was no surprise that Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri stuck with the same starting XI.
That meant Eden Hazard continued to lead the line.
Wherever you play him, of course, he can hurt opponents and so it proved in the 17th minute. His initial shot came back to him and the Belgian powered past his marker and, just as he seemed set to shoot, played a perfect pass across the face of goal where Pedro couldn’t miss.
It meant Hazard had set up goals in four consecutive Premier League matches for the first time
In under 20 minutes, the lead was doubled and the match effectively won.
So many of the Premier League 2018 news stories have focused on Hazard this term and he was superb yet again.
Willian released the Chelsea number 10 and as he outpaced the home defence, the outcome was never in doubt.
The only surprise was that this was his first goal for nine games.
From that moment, the unsung heroes of the top flight in the first half of the season – launched by the notable scalp of defeating Man Utd in their first home match of the campaign– were beaten.
Antonio Rudiger came close to heading home just before half-time as Brighton were very much second best and Hazard showed he is human within a minute of the restart when he failed to connect with a gilt-edged opportunity.
Had Marcos Alonso not seen his drive clip the outside of the post, the hosts may have been totally deflated but, literally with the next attack, they were back in the game.
Bernardo nodded a dangerous cross back across goal and Solly March got to the ball before David Luiz to flick home.
Thirteen of Brighton’s 20 league goals this season have come via a set-piece with the returning Glenn Murray’s goals alone worth nine points (a joint league-high with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Everton’s Richarlison).
However, Murray was largely starved of service as the multi-millionaires of Chelsea made their dominance tell and they saw the match out fairly comfortably.
It was a much-needed victory for Chelsea who had lost their last two Premier League away games to Spurs and Wolves, having sustained just one defeat in the previous nine (won seven, drawn one).
Key statistics
Hazard now has a league-high nine assists, more than double the tally he managed in 34 appearances last season.
Striker Alvaro Morata missed out altogether after suffering a knee injury against MOL Vidi in their midweek Europa League encounter, prompting speculation Sarri may be tempted to delve in once the transfer market reopens next month.
Chelsea have now scored 37 goals in the Premier League this season; their most at this stage of a campaign since 2014-15 when they won the title (38).
Chelsea have won all six of their league games against Brighton by an aggregate score of 14-2.
The Seagulls have lost the last nine meetings, conceding 20 goals and scoring just twice.
Brighton have not defeated Chelsea in any competition since 1933 when they won 2-1 in an FA Cup third round tie.
Brighton have lost just two of their last 11 Premier League home games (won five, drawn four), and failed to score in only one of the last 15.
However, five of their six home defeats in the division have come against last season’s top six.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton is winless in his last nine meetings with Chelsea.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has not kept consecutive league clean sheets since August 2017 for Athletic Club in La Liga.
What’s next?
Two exciting fixtures await for Brighton. There’s a south-coast derby against Bournemouth next weekend and then Arsenal are the visitors to the Amex for a Boxing Day teatime clash.
Chelsea now have back-to-back home matches this week.
Bournemouth are the visitors to Stamford Bridge in midweek for a League Cup quarter-final before it’s back to the league next Saturday (December 22) when Leicester are in town.
That is followed by a trip to near neighbours Watford on Boxing Night.
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