Chelsea vs Brighton – Chelsea faced Brighton in a 7-goal thriller for the Blues’ second preseason match of the 2023/24 season.
Chelsea would win 4-3 in an incredibly positive performance, giving Mauricio Pochettino two wins in two.
The game was split into two halves. Brighton were the dominant side on the ball in the first half, while Chelsea were content to sit back and counter.
The Blues conceded the first goal but responded by tying the game before the half. After Seagulls defender Jan Paul Ven Hecke was sent off, the Blues were far more dangerous in front of goal in the second half.
Despite a late Brighton comeback attempt, Chelsea would score three goals in the first half to seal the game, with goals from Mhykhailo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, and Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea vs. Brighton Defence Player Ratings
6.5/10 for Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga gave up a goal in the first half but came back strongly to keep Chelsea in the game with some expected but crucial saves.
Again, the Spaniard could improve his cross anticipation and positioning in set piece situations, but he put in a solid performance overall.
He gave up two more goals in the second half, one on a penalty and one in open play, and he was not particularly to blame for either.
6/10 for Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva was surprisingly quiet throughout the game. He didn’t necessarily stand out defensively, as Brighton dominated the first half and, quite frankly, outplayed Chelsea.
Nonetheless, Chelsea’s captain delivered a near-perfect first-half performance.
Levi Colwill has a rating of 7.5/10.
As a defender, Levi Colwill has world-class passing range. Several times during the game, he played a key role in launching Chelsea counter-attacks by spotting forward runs and playing beautiful line-breaking passes.
Defensively, the 20-year-old has more to offer.
He gave up a penalty in the second half due to a reckless tackle in the box, but he had a solid debut in blue.
7/10 Malo Gusto
Malo Gusto’s assignment for the night was to deal with Brighton’s tricky winger Kaoru Mitoma.
He has held his own defensively against the Japanese, and despite being outpaced a few times, he has managed to contain Mitoma on a few occasions through great tackling and effective use of his physicality.
Gusto’s arrival has proven critical to the stability of Chelsea’s right back position.
