That’s all from me tonight. Read Ed Aarons’ match report below.
Here’s an email from Justin:
“If Cole Palmer has gone off the boil, it’s only because any football fan adapts to watching hot players the way an eskimo adapts to taking saunas. The kettle’s always on with him and he is any football-lover’s cup of tea.”
The whole Chelsea team has gone off the boil.
Jeff is back:
“Brighton you magnificent bunch of progressive and acceptant creatures! Mad that vile Cucurella fella ever even played for them!”
Cucurella seems to be an easy target. Why do people dislike him so much?
Full time: Brighton 2-1 Chelsea
A deserved win for Brighton. They dominated the game after going behind early on. They simply played with more urgency, passing the ball with purpose and defending resolutely against a Chelsea team lacking ideas.
It’s a big win for Fabian Hürzeler’s side after their 7-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest. For Enzo Maresca a concerning pattern is forming. Chelsea have repeatedly looked toothless this year and only have themselves to blame for another defeat.
90+1 min: Noni Madueke is through on the right hand side. He gets to the byline and tries to square the ball to a Chelsea player. It’s cleared away only as far as Enzo Fernández who stings Verbruggen’s hands with a fierce drive.
90 min: There will be four minutes of added time.
88 min: Chelsea look flustered. Sánchez takes a quick goal kick and passes the ball to Trevor Chalobah. The Chelsea defender hesitates and hoofs the ball into touch. Chelsea have given the ball away carelessly.
83 min: It’s Tyrique George’s time to have a shot. The 19 year old, on for Jaden Sancho, receives the ball on the left and blasts his effort well over the bar.
82 min: Lamptey has been excellent for Brighton. He takes the ball off of Cole Palmer and has barely given Noni Madueke any space since he came on 10 minutes ago.
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80 min: João Pedro is on for Brighton. The Brazilian striker is often a threat and will be keen to offer Brighton an outlet on the counter attack.
76 min: Brighton are still controlling this game. Chelsea have struggled to test Verbruggen.
70 min: Brighton win a corner, which Lamptey whips into the middle. It’s cleared only as far as Mitoma on the edge of the box and he smashes a shot towards Sánchez. The former Brighton goalkeeper spills it but manages to reclaim the ball before any of Brighton’s players can follow up.
66 min: Thankfully Jadon Sancho is injecting some life into Chelsea’s attack. He runs at the Brighton defence and lays the ball off for Enzo Fernández. The Argentina international hooks the ball well wide of the post.
65 min: Chelsea are struggling to move the Brighton defence. Almost everything is being played in front of them and too slowly at that.
61 min: Enzo Fernández made his way onto the field in place of Dewsbury-Hall in the aftermath of Mitoma’s goal. Can he make a difference for Enzo Maresca’s side?
60 min: Brighton are growing in confidence. Another wave of Brighton players come forward and it takes a header from Trevor Chalobah to avert the danger.
GOAL! Brighton 2-1 Chelsea (Mitoma, 56)
It’s nothing more than Brighton deserve. Rutter plays the ball out to Kaoru Mitoma on the left. He races away but fails to pick out a teammate. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fails to clear the ball away and Rutter manages to find Mitoma again. This time he’s through on goal and dinks the ball over Sánchez.
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53 min: Chelsea need to get a shot off. They’re working it well from side to side but without enough intensity to hurt Brighton. After Neto overcooks a cross into the middle, the home side counter attack and a lofted ball almost reaches a Brighton head in the box.
51 min: Both sides are settling into a familiar rhythm. Chelsea are playing the ball out to their wingers while Brighton are pressing high.
45 min: We’re back under way with Chelsea getting the ball rolling again.
Here’s a message from Matt:
“Is it a good game? Not really, so sorry about that.
I feel quite sorry for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who looks as confused as to why he’s there as most Chelsea fans are. Tariq Lamptey is another player we have replaced with inferior alternatives. Brighton don’t need to be apprehensive, and increasingly aren’t.”
I couldn’t agree with you more, Matt.
Half time: Brighton 1-1 Chelsea
It’s been an intriguing first half but far from a classic. Chelsea started brightly and took the lead through an early Verbruggen error. Brighton responded swiftly with a brilliant Rutter header. Since then Brighton have looked the more dangerous of the two sides and have caught Chelsea out on a couple of occasions. Some stirring half-time team talks are needed.
45 min: There are three minutes of additional time.
45 min: Chelsea are in danger of letting this game drift. They’ve struggled to create much since their goal.
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42 min: There’s a lapse in concentration from Tosin on the halfway line. He struggles to deal with a ball in behind and Rutter is away. He races down the left but the angle is too tight for a shot and Cucurella clears his cross out for a corner.
39 min: The game is a bit stop-start. Dunk is down again along with Yankuba Minteh.
37 min: Now Pedro Neto is down. Chelsea’s danger man has pulled up with a ankle injury under no pressure from a Brighton player. Noni Madueke is getting warmed up on the sideline.
34 min: The Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is struggling with a knock. He tells the bench that he’s fit enough to continue though.
29 min: Big chance for Christopher Nkunku. The ball is lifted into his path and he’s away. Instead of taking the shooting himself, the Frenchman tries to cross the ball to Palmer. Palmer manages to get his head to it but he loops the ball over the bar.
26 min: Veltman flies into a challenge on Cucurella but he’s late. The Brighton fans are loving it and Veltman picks up a yellow card for his troubles.
23 min: The key battle is between the former Chelsea player Tariq Lamptey and Pedro Neto. Brighton’s fullback has made a few strong tackles while Chelsea’s winger has twisted and turned dangerously.
17 min: Brighton are pressing Chelsea well. The home side aren’t going to roll over like they did against Nottingham Forest.
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Chelsea (Rutter, 12)
There it is. Brighton are right back in this one. Brighton swing a cross into the box, which Robert Sánchez goes for but doesn’t collect. Joel Veltman receives the ball on the other side and whips in a delicious delivery to Georginio Rutter. The French forward guides the ball into the far corner with a glancing header. Game on!
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9 min: Chelsea have started brightly. Enzo Maresca will surely be urging his side on to get a second. Too many times this season they’ve taken the lead and let the opposition back into the game.
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3 min: Pedro Neto rolls his man expertly on the halfway line. Space opens up in front of him and he plays it out to Jadon Sancho. The pass is slightly behind him though, forcing the England winger to adjust his feet and lay the ball off to Cole Palmer. Chelsea’s talisman hits the ball first time and stings Bart Verbruggen’s hands.
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Chelsea (Verbruggen o.g, 5)
Who else? Cole Palmer scores for Chelsea. Chelsea win a corner and play it short with a routine from the training ground. After three passes, they play the ball to Palmer on the left who tries to pick out a teammate in the middle. The cross is too close to Bart Verbruggen who fumbles the ball and spills it into the net.
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1 min: It’s settled then. The home fans are booing Sánchez and Marc Cucurella.
Kick off
Peep! Brighton are kicking from left to right in this all Premier League FA Cup tie.
The players are making their way out to the pitch. The Brighton fans are welcoming a few familiar faces, namely Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sánchez. What type of reception will they receive?
Here’s a message from Matt:
“Evening man, hope for your sake it’s a fun game.
The squad tonight is a clear endorsement of the Sporting Directors’ unerringly-forward-looking transfer policy and not at all the result of a bunch of overpaid gilet-wearers ego sparring over their respective signings. I think poor old Moises is going to have to cover a lot of ground.
Thanks in advance for all your hard work tonight, it’s very much appreciated.”
We’ve got a response from Jeff:
“Fair dos I suppose, but in November-December he seemed a certainty for player of the year accolades, even by my own untrained eye … Now not so much. Obviously he was carrying them then, when they were doing well, and is probably carrying them now, I guess the question is, is he now not carrying them quite so much? Or at least, has he developed a slouch. Please excuse me for this nonsense, have a good game pal!”
I hear you, Jeff. I think the players around him need to step up. It will be interesting to see how Christopher Nkunku performs in a rare start. Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho should also add a few goals to their tallies.
We’ve got mail from Jeff:
“Hullo Xaymaca! So Cole Palmer, are we allowed to say he’s gone off the boil yet?”
Palmer’s been quieter than usual in his last couple of games. Quiet for Palmer is two goals in five games and a decisive cross-shot in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over West Ham on Monday. Let’s see how he performs today.
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The teams
Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk, Georginio, Minteh, Welbeck, Baleba, Mitoma, Van Hecke, Veltman, Hinshelwood
Subs: McGill, Webster, Gruda, João Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Gómez, Ayari, O’Riley
TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Here's our starting XI to face @ChelseaFC in the FA Cup. 👀📝 pic.twitter.com/1ncl5hINYu
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 8, 2025
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall, Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Nkunku
Subs: Jorgenson, Colwill, Anselmino, Acheampong, Samuels-Smith, Amougou, Fernández, George, Madueke
Representing Chelsea! 🖤🩷#CFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/FpWM8HTmrU
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 8, 2025
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Today's FA Cup results
Coventry 1-4 Ipswich
Everton 0-2 Bournemouth
Leeds 0-2 Millwall
Leyton Orient 1-2 Man City
Southampton 0-1 Burnley
Wigan 1-2 Fulham
Stoke City 3-3 Cardiff City (Cardiff won 4-2 on pens)
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Fulham
Preston North End 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers (Preston North End won 4-2 on pens)
Birmingham City v Newcastle United is 2-2 at St Andrews.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Brighton v Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round. Tonight’s game is the first of a Brighton v Chelsea double bill at the Amex Stadium, with the two sides facing each other again in the league on Valentine’s day.
The home side will be keen to bounce back after their humiliating 7-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the league. The Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler said: “We still think we are on a good path and one game shouldn’t define our season or our whole team.”
Brighton will need a big performance to beat Chelsea. Chelsea have won their last four games against the club, starting in September 2023 after the Clearlake Capital consortium spent £225 million on Brighton players and coaching staff. Chelsea haven’t looked entirely convincing as of late, scraping past West Ham in their last league game, so tonight’s match is an intriguing one.
Stay tuned for updates. Kick off is at 8pm. Email me your predictions.
