Brighton 0 Chelsea 4: Eden Hazard at unstoppable best as visitors take advantage of accommodating hosts
Who needs a new striker when your opponents make it this easy to score?
Having been linked with almost every target man going after failing to win a game outside a penalty shootout this year, it took less than six minutes for Chelsea to show they could cope without one here.
It helped that Brighton & Hove Albion were so accommodating, Chris Hughton’s decision to axe half his outfield line-up and switch to a three-man defence backfiring badly at one end of the field.
It also helped that Eden Hazard was at his unstoppable best, including grabbing Chelsea’s first goal inside three minutes, shifting the ball expertly and drilling home after Dale Stephens had unwittingly prodded Victor Moses’s cross straight at him.
He was at the heart of a sublime second as well, a one-touch box-of-tricks of a move involving Michy Batshuayi and Willian, with a finish to match by the Brazilian.
A team that had failed to score in three of their past five games and were without the suspended Alvaro Morata and Pedro looked like finding the net every time they attacked, with Tiemoue Bakayoko and Willian also testing Matthew Ryan, who brilliantly saved the latter’s free-kick onto the post.
If anything, it is at the other end where reinforcements are required, judging by Willy Caballero’s antics in Thibaut Courtois’ absence.
He was lucky not to concede a penalty when he palmed the ball straight to Ezequiel Schelotto before lunging at the full-back - a Video Assistant Referee would not have overturned a spot-kick award.
The same might be said about another first-half call when the same player appeared to be shoved by Bakayoko only for Jon Moss to wave play-on and book him for his furious protests.
Hazard should also have been carded, for simulation, when he initiated contact on the edge of the box.
It was not all bad from Caballero, who produced a superb reaction save from Tomer Hemed’s header from six yards, clawing the ball away with his left hand having already moved to his right.
However, Hemed should have scored for a team whose own striker search on Friday by signing Jurgen Locadia, who was paraded before kick-off.
The only team in the league without a point against any of the top six and having won only one of their previous 12 games - failing to score in eight of them - Brighton also hit the woodwork through a Davy Pröpper header and saw the omnipresent Schelotto poke straight at Caballero.
By that stage, Chelsea had already lost Andreas Christensen to a nasty head injury after he was led off the field by Moss having tried to play on.
Brighton threw on Beram Kayal and top scorer Glenn Murray with a quarter of the game remaining but any hope was snuffed out 13 minutes from time by Hazard.
Willian’s raking pass found the Belgian, who raced goalward, waited for Ryan to commit, and passed the ball into the net.
And there was still time for substitute Charly Musonda to find Moses with an even better ball over the top, which the full-back took in his stride and side-footed into the corner.
Full-time
Two goals for Hazard, one for Willian and Moses ease Chelsea to a 4-0 win. Antonio Conte's side are up to third. Brighton stay in 16th and could be in the relegation zone by the end of the weekend.
90 min
Three minutes of time added on.
GOAL! Brighton 0 Chelsea 4 (Moses 89')
Another lovely Chelsea goal. Musonda clips over a beaut of a pass, which Moses controls beautifully with his right foot before finishing calmly with his left.
87 min
Brighton fans start heading for the exits. Those Chelsea wags in the away end begin singing "is there a fire drill?" Wonder if that one will ever stop being sung at grounds.
86 min
I looked up at the screen to see what looked like a pass-back picked up by Ryan. It was actually a pea-roller of a shot from Batshuayi. It's not really been his day today.
85 min
The game is so dead that Sky Sports are already doing their man of the match. Unsurprisingly Hazard gets Alan Smith's vote. Perhaps more remarkable is Alan Smith calling Alan Parry "mate" just before. Lovely camaraderie between the two Alans.
83 min
Brighton change - the impressive March replaced by Izquierdo.
81 min
Chelsea change - Musonda on for Willian.
GOAL! Brighton 0 Chelsea 3 (Hazard 77')
Game, set and match. Willian plays a pass to Hazard, who recieves the ball about 35 yards out and thinks "sod this, I'm doing it on my own". The Belgian flies towards goal, and as Brighton defenders desperately try to tackle him, Hazard just delays and delays the shot until his path is clear before cooly rolling a finish past Ryan into far corner. Absolutely brilliant from a player who's been such a cut above today.
75 min
Chelsea change - Zappacosta on for Alonso.
73 min
March does well again to jink away from a couple of Chelsea defenders in the middle of the pitch. Eventually though Kante nips in to make the tackle.
71 min
Dunk bails out his fellow defender Duffy with a brilliant slide tackle to deny Batshuayi after Duffy had given the ball away around the halfway line. It's been a slightly frustrating day for Batshuayi, who's played ok but has wasted a couple of opportunities.
68 min
What was that lull I was talking about? Schelotto does brilliantly to nip in front of Alonso and drive towards goal for a one-on-one against Caballero. The Amex Stadium holds its breath, but the Chelsea goalkeeper spreads himself and makes the save. Schelotto has been a bundle of energy today - with a touch of the George Boyd about him - and would have fully deserved a goal.
Brighton respond with a double change - Murray and Kayal on for Gross and Hemed.
66 min
Bit of a lull in the game at the moment. Surely it's Murray time?
63 min
March, who's been lively today, has a go from the edge of the box that's deflected wide. Chelsea easily clear the resulting corner.
60 min
Hazard is on the floor rubbing his head after being fouled for the third time in as many minutes. Chelsea sub Ross Barkley is warming up.
59 min
From the free-kick that Hazard won, Willian crashes a 30-yard effort onto the post. Ryan got a crucial fingertip on that to divert it onto the woodwork.
58 min
Christensen is unable to continue, and is replaced by Luiz. If that's concussion, Christensen could be out for the League Cup semi final against Arsenal on Wednesday.
57 min
Stephens comes flying into Hazard but does win the ball. Unfortunately though it just ricochets back to Hazard, who is comically cleaned out by Duffy. The subsequent yellow card is inevitable.
54 min
Christensen's back on, and the game has quietened down a touch in the last few minutes.
51 min
How did that stay out?! Propper crashes a header onto the post, and then the ball flies just past Hemed who was waiting for the rebound. Brighton so unlucky there, though Conte is furious that Christensen wasn't allowed back onto the pitch after receiving treatment.
50 min
Christensen and Duffy are happily both up and about. The Chelsea man seemed to come off worse out of that.
48 min
March does really well to win a free-kick down the Brighton left. Suttner's ball in is a good one, but Christensen does brilliantly to head the ball clear. Christensen gets clattered by Duffy as he makes the clearance, and both men are on the floor receiving treatment.
46 min
We're back under way. No changes for either side.
First-half summary
Slightly curious half in that Chelsea should be out of sight, but at the same time Brighton can feel aggrieved not to have had at least one penalty and be right back in the game. The next goal obviously is crucial. Should Brighton get it, then Chelsea - without a win in their last five matches - will get a little edgy. The hosts will also look to rough up their opponents' back four at some stage by bringing on Glenn Murray, who I'm surprised Chelsea haven't been linked with in the last few days.
Half-time
Now it's Chelsea who want a penalty after Hazard goes down under Suttner's challenge. There's minimal contact but I daresay "I've seen them given". Though actually it looked just out of the area anyway. The half-time whistle goes shortly after, with Chelsea well in charge up 2-0.
44 min
Batshuayi with a decent effort from just inside the area that curls wide of the far post. He really needs a goal today you feel.
42 min
Chelsea inches from going 3-0 up as Hazard's cross-shot from the left just evades Batshuayi.
39 min
Batshuayi leads another Chelsea counter, but his pass to Hazard is wayward and the ball rolls to safety. You can almost hear Conte cursing on the sidelines.
37 min
Chris Hughton's side are right in this match now, and the crowd are making lots of noise in indignation at those rejected penalty appeals.
34 min
A second Brighton penalty shout, and again it's Schelotto who is asking the question. The wing-back goes down under challenge from Babayoko but Jonathan Moss says goal kick. That one looked more like a coming together to be fair. Schelotto gets a booking for his appeals.
33 min
Brighton again look dangerous from a corner. Duffy gets his head to the ball about six yards out but he can't direct it on target. Much better from the hosts in the last 10 minutes or so.
30 min
Great save Caballero. Hemed thinks he's scored with a downward header about eight yards out, but Caballero does brilliantly to get down to his left and pluck the ball out of harm's way.
29 min
Another Chelsea chance goes begging. Brighton give the ball away inside their own half, and in the blink of an eye Hazard is bearing down on goal. The shot looks on from the edge of the box, but Hazard flicks a pass to Batshuayi instead. Batshuayi does well to cut inside and get a powerful shot away, but it's too close to Ryan, who can beat the ball away with his fists. Delaying the inevitable? It certainly feels that way.
27 min
The Chelsea front three combine again, this time to send Willian scampering clear down the right. The Brazilian gets a shot away but Ryan makes the save at his near post. You do fear for Brighton today - Chelsea look lethal on the counter.
24 min
Brighton are really struggling to live with the brilliant movement of Willian, Batshuayi, and Hazard. The latter two combine to try and send Hazard clear, but Duffy sticks out a desperate leg to get the ball clear.
Stunning goal from Willian. Worth watching @BBCMOTD for that alone.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 20, 2018
21 min
Chelsea's stand-in Caballero has made a very nervy start here. Just minutes after that penalty appeal, he comes charging out of his goal at a corner and is beaten to it by Duffy. Luckily his blushes are spared by the linesman's flag going up for offside moments later.
18 min
Chelsea look like scoring every time they go forward. On this occasion, Bakayoko fizzes in a low shot that Ryan beats away at his near post.
16 min
Brighton are very unlucky not to get a penalty. Caballero flaps at a cross, and then comes out to close down Schelotto. The Chelsea keeper clips Schelotto but referee Jon Moss waves away the penalty appeals. "VAR VAR" I start chanting in my head.
15 min
March gets Brighton's first shot of the day away after leaving Kante for dead with a clever Cruyff turn. It's an easy save for Caballero though, straight down his throat from about 25 yards out.
13 min
Schelotto makes a mess of his right-wing cross, as Brighton get in behind Chelsea for the first time. Bit of a waste, that.
12 min
Chelsea remain on the front foot, but Alonso's corner is headed clear.
10 min
Every Chelsea player gathered in a huddle after Willian's goal to celebrate what really was an outstanding exhibition of pacy, purposeful counter attacking. Brighton's players look shell-shocked.
GOAL! Brighton 0 Chelsea 2 (Willian 6')
What a goal that is! Chelsea double their lead with a sensational second. Willian pings a pass to Hazard who flicks the ball to Batshuayi, who in turn back-heels a perfect pass back to Willian. The Brazilian strides onto it and buries a finish first time beyond Ryan at the near post. One of the team goals of the season.
GOAL! Brighton 0 Chelsea 1 (Hazard 3')
Moses' low cross is deflected into Hazard's path about 12 yards out. The Belgian shifts the ball onto his right foot and smashes a finish past Ryan. Dream start for Chelsea.
3 min
Hazard wins an early free-kick about 35 yards from goal. Willian decides to shoot when a cross looked like the better option. Ryan makes an easy save in the Brighton goal.
Kick-off
We're under way at the Amex Stadium, following a minute's applause for the late Cyrille Regis. It's absolutely bucketing it down on the south coast.
A reminder of the teams below. Murray only on the Brighton bench, while Chelsea must make do without the suspended Morata and the injured Courtois, Fabregas and Cahill.
Brighton XI: Ryan; Suttner, Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk; Goldson, Gross, March, Stephens; Propper, Hemed.
Subs: Hunemeier, Kayal, Baldock, Murray, Izquierdo, Rosenior, Krul.
Chelsea XI: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Hazard.
Subs: Barkley, Musonda, Zappacosta, Luiz, Eduardo, Ampadu, Sterling.
Teams are in the tunnel
Kick-off five minutes away.
Ever present Willian
What Batshuayi would give to be one of Conte's go-to players in the same vein as Willian.
50 - Willian is making his 50th consecutive Premier League appearance today - the longest current run in the competition among outfield players. Ubiquitous. pic.twitter.com/WUex5cHstb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 20, 2018
Brighton face uphill task
A glance over the stats doesn't make happy reading for Brighton fans - nor coach Hughton.
Chelsea have won all five of their league matches against today's opponents. Should they win this match, only one team will have a better 100 per cent record against an opponent since the Football League began in 1888 (Wimbledon against Bournemouth, eight wins out of eight).
Hughton, meanwhile, is winless in seven matches against Chelsea in all competitions (D2 L5), losing each of the last five; his only victory against them came in the League Cup in September 2010, a 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge for Newcastle.
Brighton have lost their last seven games against Chelsea in all competitions, failing to score in six of them. #BRICHE �� pic.twitter.com/HDejGKM84h
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) January 20, 2018
Batshuayi handed opening - can he deliver?
Batshuayi has been handed the chance to address Chelsea's goal-drought after being handed his first Premier League start by Conte since October 14 when they lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace.
While the 24-year-old started and scored in Chelsea's FA Cup penalty-shoot scramble against Norwich in mid-week, the Belgian has not been part of Conte's plans in the league in recent months.
Chelsea are desperately trying to boost their resources with Peter Crouch the latest surprise name linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Batshuayi has his chance to prove Conte and his doubters wrong and that he still has a future in west London this lunchtime.
How Brighton line-up
Brighton: Ryan, Goldson, Duffy, Dunk, Schelotto, Stephens, Propper, Suttner, March, Gross, Hemed.
Subs: Hunemeier, Kayal, Baldock, Murray, Izquierdo, Rosenior, Krul.
Chris Hughton's men have made five changes to the side that lost 2-0 to West Brom last week with Connor Goldson, Ezequiel Schelotto, Markus Suttner, Solly March and Tomer Hemed replacing Gaetan Bong, Jose Izquierdo, Bruno, Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray
Here's how Albion line up against @ChelseaFC at the Amex this afternoon.#BHAFC ��⚪️ pic.twitter.com/8Fbxc5U1Zq
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) January 20, 2018
Chelsea team news is in - Batshuayi starts
Willy Caballero replaces the injured Thibaut Courtois in goal while Michy Batshuayi is handed a rare start in the Premier League. Barkley will have to wait for his full debut. He starts on the bench.
Chelsea: Caballero; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Hazard.
Chelsea team: Caballero; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Hazard. #BRICHEpic.twitter.com/xnsUA23K1o
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 20, 2018
Will Barkley be handed full debut?
Morning all. Welcome to coverage of today's early match where we're just 10 minutes away from the team announcements.
Chelsea will be without injured duo Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas but new signing Ross Barkley could make his debut as he inches towards full match fitness, manager Antonio Conte said at his presser earlier this week.
Barkley played 70 minutes in a friendly game on Thursday and is in contention to play a part. The former Everton player has not played this season due to a hamstring injury sustained at the start of the campaign.
The 24-year-old signed a five and a half year contract with Chelsea earlier this month after he initially turned down a move to Stamford Bridge in the close season.
"Ross is a in a good physical condition. For tomorrow he is in the squad. I don't know if during the game I decide to give him the chance to play a part or if I want to wait," Conte said. "He has to continue to improve, work with us, with our idea."
Chelsea are fourth in the table, level on 47 points with Liverpool above them while Brighton have dropped to 16th after failing to win in their last four league games.
