Chelsea have started the season with entertaining wins. After defeating Fulham 3-2 in the opening round, Alonso's team then beat Brighton 4-3. "If you want entertainment, watch as many Chelsea matches as possible", the Daily Mail commented.

Cole Palmer (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring Chelsea's fourth goal against Brighton in the Premier League, at Stamford Bridge, London, 30/8. Photo: AP

Chelsea only controlled about 25% of possession but generated 2,97 xG, double Brighton's 1,49. This clearly demonstrates Alonso's direct approach. Without needing extensive possession, Chelsea created attacks with enough pace and sharpness to penetrate the opponent's defense.

Lavia opened the scoring in the fourth minute, capitalizing on a miscommunication between goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and defender Mats Wieffer. Wieffer attempted to head the ball clear but interfered with a situation that belonged to Verbruggen, allowing Lavia to tap in from close range.

This was Lavia's first goal for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian midfielder had previously scored in the Premier League on 30/8 four years ago, while playing for Southampton against Chelsea.

Chelsea only needed 10 more minutes to double their lead. Morgan Rogers escaped his marker and delivered a cross into the 5,5-meter box, where Pedro Neto appeared at the right moment to tap the ball into the net. New signing Rogers continued to impress after scoring in the match against Fulham.

The third goal best showcased Chelsea's transition ability. From a Brighton attack, Malo Gusto turned and quickly passed to Jorrel Hato. The young defender accelerated forward before assisting Joao Pedro, who broke free and finished neatly.

Joao Pedro drew attention when facing his former club. The Brazilian forward previously played for Brighton before moving to Chelsea and was subjected to boos from the visiting fans. After scoring, he celebrated in front of the Brighton supporters' section.

Joao Pedro scores Chelsea's third goal against Brighton in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, London, 30/8. Photo: AP

Pedro continued to be a central figure in the match in an unwanted way. In the 63rd minute, he accidentally scored an own goal while attempting to block Pascal Gross's cross, helping Brighton reduce the deficit to 2-3. Earlier, Malick Junior Yalcouye had scored Brighton's first goal in the 35th minute with a volley after Emiliano Martinez saved Charalampos Kostoulas's shot.

Yalcouye scored in his first Premier League start. The goal revived Brighton's hopes after falling three goals behind Chelsea. This conceded goal also extended Chelsea's streak of not keeping a clean sheet in the Premier League to 17 matches.

However, Chelsea continued to demonstrate their sharpness. In the 74th minute, Joao Pedro passed the ball to Palmer outside the penalty area. The English midfielder dribbled past the Brighton defense and struck a decisive left-footed shot into the bottom corner, making the score 4-2. Head coach Xabi Alonso enthusiastically jumped up to celebrate on the touchline.

Palmer also maintained his strong form against Brighton. This was his sixth goal against them in the Premier League, only fewer than the eight goals he has scored against Wolves. Thomas Tuchel, the England national team head coach, was also in the stands, watching Palmer continue to make a difference. Carlo Ancelotti, another former Chelsea coach, was also present at Stamford Bridge to scout Brazilian players like Joao Pedro.

Chelsea still endured anxious final minutes. In the 80th minute, Moises Caicedo, who had only been on the field for over 10 minutes, had to leave due to injury. The Ecuadorian midfielder was in tears as he walked off the pitch and was replaced by another former Brighton player, Valentin Barco.

Brighton continued to press and received another opportunity when Lewis Dunk fouled Joao Pedro in a situation where the Chelsea striker could have broken through. The referee only issued a yellow card, as another Brighton defender was covering behind, instead of sending off the visiting captain.

In the final minute, Pascal Gross headed in from a set-piece to make it 3-4. Chelsea's defense failed to deal with the aerial ball, leading to tense final seconds at Stamford Bridge. However, Brighton could not find an equalizer, and Chelsea secured the victory.

Brighton thus became the first team in 50 years to score three or more goals in four consecutive Premier League matches against Chelsea. But that record did not help Fabian Hurzeler's side earn points at Stamford Bridge.

For Alonso, the victory further highlighted his impact from his initial matches managing Chelsea. The seven goals Chelsea scored in the first two rounds are the best performance by a coach in their first two Premier League matches for the club. Alonso also became the fourth coach to see his team score at least seven goals in their first two Premier League matches, after Bobby Robson, Michael Laudrup, and Marcelo Bielsa.

In the third round, Chelsea will visit reigning champions Arsenal on 6/9. The match will be a test of Alonso's abilities.

Hoang An