Chelsea 1-3 Brighton exposes fragilities as Maresca fights to steady wobbling start

Chelsea endured another setback in a wretched early-season run, surrendering a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Enzo Fernandez put the Blues ahead in the first half, but discipline issues and a second-half turnaround left Enzo Maresca’s side battered and facing questions about their direction at a crucial stage of the campaign.

Chelsea started positively despite a number of missing players, and Enzo Fernandez struck to give them the lead in the first half. Brighton responded through persistent pressure and accuracy, and the match swung decisively when Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed in the 53rd minute for a foul that halted a Brighton counter. The red card forced Chelsea into a defensive reshuffle and shifted the balance of the game as the Blues wrestled to defend a one-goal advantage.

Danny Welbeck levelled in the 77th minute, finishing off a sustained Brighton spell, and Chelsea’s hopes of clinging to a result unravelled in stoppage time when Maxim De Cuyper appeared to have given Brighton the winner only for Welbeck to seal a late brace with a 90th-minute strike added on for good measure. The goals extended Brighton’s control over the closing stages and left Chelsea staring at another blemish in a season already marked by inconsistency.

Chalobah’s sending off compounds Chelsea’s defensive headaches, with suspensions and injuries limiting Enzo Maresca’s options. The 53rd-minute red will rule Chalobah out of next week’s visit of Liverpool, a match Chelsea will approach with a threadbare squad that already lists Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana among the unavailable defenders. The club has been vocal about the need for defensive reinforcements after Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, underscoring the fragility of a back line that has already endured disruption this season.

The manager’s decision-making in the moments surrounding substitutions drew further scrutiny from supporters. Maresca’s changes appeared to lean toward defensive stability rather than attacking intent, leaving attackers such as Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho on the bench while Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler pressed for a decisive finish with late changes. The crowd’s reaction at full-time included boos, reflecting frustration with a squad that has struggled to convert pressure into results and cohesion.

Brighton’s performance underlined why the Seagulls’ recruitment drive continues to attract attention. The 21-year-old Yankuba Minteh was a constant threat on the right, proving troublesome for Marc Cucurella and providing the assist that led to Welbeck’s equaliser. Minteh’s performance has sparked talk of potential interest from bigger clubs if he can maintain this level, with his pace and directness proving a real asset for Brighton.

Estevao Willian’s continued battle to break through at Chelsea was another subplot of the day. The Brazilian winger had already been pressed into earlier senior action due to injuries and red-card suspensions, and he was withdrawn after Chalobah’s dismissal, marking a second consecutive match in which he left the field under difficult circumstances. Willian did threaten at times with a clever nutmeg that produced a fleeting opening, but teammates were quick to point out the need for better spacing and quicker shooting in a league where chances are rarely afforded.

Chelsea’s longer-term concerns also extend to tactical balance and personnel. The Blues have been linked with central-defender targets after Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, and Maresca’s squad has shown a lack of clear-cut attacking options off the bench in certain games. With a brutal run of fixtures looming, the club’s hierarchy—led by co-owner Behdad Eghbali—appeared to take the temperature of the dressing room, and Maresca took the post-match period to address the squad ahead of the media, signaling the pressure he faces as results fail to stabilise.

Brighton, by contrast, continued to project belief in their core group and the depth added in the close season. Gomez, a recent standout in midweek cup action, again featured prominently and was fouled in a situation that led to Chalobah’s red card, underscoring the visitors’ capacity to force mistakes in the opponent’s half. The Seagulls’ crowd left Stamford Bridge with renewed confidence in their squad and in their manager’s approach, while Chelsea’s supporters remained vocal about what the club needs to move forward.

As the Premier League season progresses, both teams will carry forward different narratives: Brighton’s ascent and transfer intrigue around their young talents versus Chelsea’s struggle to translate early-season optimism into consistent, measured performances. Chelsea will have a narrow window to regroup before a challenging stretch, while Brighton will look to sustain momentum and possibly profit from the rising stock of players like Minteh as the market continues to shift in the early part of the campaign.