Chelsea beat Brighton 4-3 to extend perfect start under Xabi Alonso

Free-scoring Chelsea have extended Xabi Alonso’s perfect start as manager with an eye-catching 4-3 win against Brighton.

Alonso has presided over two successive wins in the Premier League and one in the League Cup since taking charge of the Blues.

Romeo Lavia opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with his first Chelsea goal since signing from Southampton in 2023.

Pedro Neto doubled the Blues’ lead, and Joao Pedro added the third before Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye got one back late in a frenzied first half.

Pedro’s own goal after the interval gave Chelsea a few anxious moments before Cole Palmer struck in the closing stages.

Pascal Gross netted in stoppage-time, but it was too late to derail Chelsea.

Next up for Alonso’s team is a trip to face Premier League champions Arsenal on September 6.

Having dispatched Fulham, Luton and Brighton, it will be the first major test for the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss as he tries to revitalise a club that finished a dismal 10th last season.