Chelsea defeats Brighton 4-3 despite recording lowest possession on record

Chelsea secured a 4-3 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on August 30, 2026, at Stamford Bridge. Under coach Xabi Alonso, the team finished with 25.6% possession, the lowest figure for the club in a Premier League match since 2003-04. Cole Palmer scored four goals for Chelsea in a match defined by rapid counter-attacks rather than sustained control. The hosts managed 17 shots and created 2.97 expected goals, utilizing the pace of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, and Palmer to exploit space left by Brighton. Moises Caicedo, who entered the match as a substitute, was forced off with an injury after 14 minutes, adding to midfield concerns as Enzo Fernandez remained unavailable. The victory marks Chelsea’s second win in two league matches this season.

• 4:51 PMCBS Sports — Not too Xabi: Chelsea's record-low possession numbers under Alonso are hiding a ruthless new identity