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Time of India
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Jamie Vardy ends Leicester City career with 200th goal in final appearance
Image Source: Getty Premier League legend Jamie Vardy ended his sensational 13-year Leicester City career in style when he netted his 200th goal for the club on his 500th and final appearance as the Foxes beat Ipswich Town 2-0 on Sunday. It was an emotionally charged occasion, as it should have been, at the King Power Stadium with fans commemorating a player who had journeyed from non-league to a Premier League winner, to a club legend. A fitting farewell for Leicester City's greatest-ever player Vardy's landmark goal arrived in the 28th minute and was a trademark finish courtesy of an accurate cut-back from James Justin. The timing was poetic, too, falling 13 years to the day since Vardy swapped Fleetwood Town for Leicester for £1 million. The story of his rise from England's fifth tier to the top of the English game is one of football's most stirring fables. — SkySportsPL (@SkySportsPL) Magic was in the air at the King Power Stadium as fans unfurled banners and sang in unison in tribute to their hero. Vardy came off in the 80th minute to an honor guard from his teammates and a standing ovation from the crowd. The messages on the scoreboard read 'Thank You Vards' and 'Goodbye GOAT,' a reminder of his significance to the club. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo This season, though, Vardy was the highest scorer for Leicester despite the club's relegation with ten goals. He has scored 145 Premier League goals, making him the leading goalscorer in the club's Premier League history, and his influence at the King Power down the years has brought first a remarkable Premier League title in 2016. Also Read: Jamie Vardy to leave Leicester City at end of season Looking ahead: Jamie Vardy's future and Leicester's next chapter Vardy, 38, says he plans to continue playing but has been coy on where. He has not retired, so staying in shape could be just one one-season store window. Leicester City, meanwhile, are in transition. The future of manager Ruud van Nistelrooy looks uncertain, and the club is in need of a rebuild after a difficult season ended in relegation despite a late revival. "He Was Always Going To Score!" ⚽️ | JJ On Vardy's Last Appearence The end of an era for Leicester City – and Jamie Vardy's leaving would be a vindication. His memory is ingrained in the history of the club, not just for his goals and the honours, but for projecting the spirit and invincibility of Leicester's ascent. Vardy's influence will surely endure in the future, both in terms of the players and supporters. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Cole Palmer says ‘s--- happens' live on Sky Sports after ending goal drought
Cole Palmer said that 's--- happens' after being asked live on Sky Sports about the 18-match goal drought that he finally ended with a late penalty to seal Chelsea's victory over Liverpool. The 22-year-old also took a swipe at social media, where the criticism of him has been driven, saying it was 'full of idiots' and 'trolls'. Palmer was man-of-the-match in the 3-1 win over the new league champions, playing a part in the two other goals, which hugely improved Chelsea's chances of finishing in the top five and qualifying for the Champions League. "It's nearly a beautiful moment" 🤏 Cole Palmer's clever effort comes off the post! 💥 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025 The forward has not scored since mid-January, however, and said, after his goal: 'S--- happens... sorry for my language. It happens. Obviously, I went three months without scoring, but it just gives me more motivation, more fight to do well, not just for myself, but for the team. 'You know yourself, social media nowadays - just full of idiots, basically - the trolls and whatever. I don't pay no (sic) attention to that. But for today, I'm happy. But you've got to keep improving and trying to reach new levels.' Asked whether he had, nevertheless, endured a difficult time in front of goal and that had affected him, Palmer added: 'Well, for anyone... getting chances, you're not letting your team down at the end of the day. 'I feel like I'm mentally strong anyway. So whatever people say, it doesn't bother me. I've had it all my life growing up, so I don't really care what people say. I feel pride in helping the team, and if I'm not doing that, obviously I'm not happy. 'Today, I felt like myself. I felt confident, I was trying things, first time passes, playing forward, playing free and when you have him [Moises Caicedo] next to you, it's a dream.' Cole Palmer slots it in from the spot 🥶 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025 Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca insisted the lack of goals had not led to Palmer's form suffering or bothered him. 'Probably from outside,' he said of the talk about the England international. 'But we see Cole day by day on the training ground and he is exactly the same day. But to be sure he is not happy when he is not scoring goals…Cole is that kind of player that he can do things people do not expect.' Maresca said that Chelsea now had a 'fight' to qualify for the Champions League and added: 'Hopefully in the future we can fight for something more important. In this moment we are there and hopefully we can finish there.'
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Liverpool have decades of ghosts to exorcise if they are to win the Premier League
The blue wall was holding firm, the visitors were relishing delaying the hosts' bid to paint the town red, and then Liverpool's legendary captain made a horrendous, uncharacteristic error sending an opposing striker one-on-one with the goalkeeper at the Kop end. This could have been eerily and despairingly familiar for Merseyside's league leaders. For Chelsea's Demba Ba in the spring of 2014, read Everton's Beto in April, 2025. The outcome may prove equally consequential in determining which name is engraved onto the Premier League trophy. Huge chance! 😲 Beto breaks free but his effort crashes against the post! 💥 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025 Should the ticker-tape parade begin in this stadium on May 25, Caoimhin Kelleher could be forgiven for leading a ceremonial kissing of his right post before receiving the silverware, acknowledging how it came to his club's rescue on this emotionally charged night. Sliding-doors moments are in danger of being name-checked to the point of cliché when analysing matches, seasons and even eras. Even had Beto taken his chance to leave Virgil van Dijk fearing seeing his defensive mishap replayed as often as Steven Gerrard's 11 years ago, Liverpool's response at the start of the second half may have given them the necessary momentum to restore their 12-point lead over Arsenal. And yet there was an unshakeable sense the Merseyside derby was evolving like a reconstruction of Jose Mourinho parking double-decker buses around Anfield the last time Liverpool turned into the closing straight with a lead and a raucous crowd begging them to cross the line. You could sense the anxiety before Diogo Jota's winner. It was audible with every howl when a pass was delayed or misplaced, or scream for the ball to be moved quicker through the zones before Everton's retreat to the edge of the penalty had the necessary reinforcements. "The Reds BURST through on derby night!" 🎙️ Diogo Jota opens the scoring in the Merseyside derby in front of the Kop! 💥 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025 It was still there when Liverpool were protecting their lead, Arne Slot's players navigating their way through the exasperation when six minutes of added time ushered in the final, aerial barrage for Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to resist. The neutrals have been calling the title race a formality for weeks, and will no doubt reassert that view following the latest victory. There are enough demons to banish to guarantee nothing can be taken for granted when Liverpool are closing in on a championship. Even the one success in the past 35 years absorbed a world health crisis and some insidious attempts to null and void the season. If that is fresh in memory, there are plenty of other psychological wounds of missed opportunities to heal, some overlooked or forgotten beyond Anfield but enough to give fatalistic Liverpool supporters sleepless nights between now and the promised land of 86 points. The ones that got away are as much part of the fabric of the club's recent history. Gerrard's slip against Chelsea is repeated most. Then there was losing the title on a final day shoot-out to Manchester City in 2019 and 2022, a vibrant Anfield arriving with hope but leaving cursing watching a great Liverpool side assembled in the wrong seasons. Go back to the Rafael Benítez era and he will name-check Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin scoring four to halt a title charge in 2009, just before Federico Macheda popped up with a crucial Manchester United goal with his only meaningful contribution to English football. Benítez lost the title by four points. The ignominious list goes further into the Nineties, David James' Liverpool career defined by flapping at David Beckham crosses in a decisive game against United in 1997 to ensure Roy Evans never won the Premier League and the chance to banish those 'Spice Boy' jibes was gone for a talented but ultimately unfulfilled team. These laments began in February 1991, when Sir Kenny Dalglish quit the reigning champions with Liverpool top of the league, Arsenal effectively gifted the title as the holders lost six of their next 14 matches. Jürgen Klopp finally ended the title drought in 2020, but there were no supporters inside Anfield to celebrate it. Now they are on the verge of satisfying an ache to ensure they can take title celebrations from their living room into the stadium and the streets. Not since Alan Hansen in 1990 has a Liverpool captain had the chance to receive the championship trophy and lift it towards a full Kop. To the rest of the country, Liverpool are simply trying to seal the deal to win the Premier League. At Anfield, they are also seeking to exorcise the ghosts of all those near-misses and party cancellations of the recent past.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Man Utd vs Arsenal player ratings: Fernandes and Rice produce excellence
Arsenal's slim hopes of catching Liverpool in the Premier League table were dealt another blow by a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Declan Rice's second-half equaliser brought Mikel Arteta's side back into the game after Bruno Fernandes had given United a first-half lead with a powerful free-kick. Could not be criticised for Rice's powerful effort and otherwise stood up well to Arsenal's shots from distance. Distribution was inconsistent. 6 A mentally challenging afternoon, having to keep an eye on Arsenal's midfield runners and worry about Merino's physical approach. Coped with it well, overall. 6 Like De Ligt, seemed happy enough to be focusing on Arsenal's collection of midfielders rather than a true centre-forward. Solid showing. 6 French defender was made to worry about Timber's overlapping runs but the game mostly took place in front of him. Substituted with a knock. 6 Denied by a spectacular Raya save shortly after the break, when he should have scored. Remained energetic and diligent. 6 Hardly touched the ball in the first half but still produced a moment of genuine quality with his powerful free-kick. Another sign of his importance. 7 Bruno Fernandes, that is beautiful 😍 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025 Not the day to demonstrate his quality on the ball, instead doing his best work without possession on the edge of his box. Battled hard throughout. 7 Won his individual battle with Nwaneri and, despite looking awkward on the ball at times, produced an excellent cross which Mazraoui almost converted. 6 United's most threatening player throughout, causing plenty of problems for Arsenal with his speed on the counter-attack. 7 United's inability to keep hold of the ball meant he had to worry more about his defensive duties than his attacking possibilities. Worked hard without shining. 5 Found it difficult to overpower Saliba for most of his 76 minutes on the pitch, aside from one impressive turn. Could not finish his one chance. 5 Substitutes Heaven (Yoro 46)Collyer (Eriksen 76) Strange positioning on the Fernandes free-kick provided the United captain with a huge target. An embarrassing moment, but he made some fabulous saves afterwards. 6 David Raya with an INCREDIBLE save to prevent Noussair Mazraoui 🤯🧤 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025 The former Ajax defender is always composed on the ball and he tried to push forward throughout the game. Showed his skill in assisting Rice's goal. 7 For most of the game he was the dominant man in the physical battle with Zirkzee. Seemed comfortable throughout the afternoon. 6 Arsenal's dominance of possession meant that the Brazilian had very little defending to do, before he denied Hojlund a late goal with an excellent block. 6 Looked defensively uncomfortable whenever he was faced with Garnacho on the counter-attack. Replaced by Lewis-Skelly before the hour. 5 Arsenal's most industrious player for most of the game, buzzing around midfield and looking for openings. Simply did not have the runners in front of him. 7 Tidy in possession, as usual, but seemed reluctant to play the adventurous forward passes that Arsenal needed at times. Removed with 15 minutes to play. 6 Pulled Arsenal back into the game with his excellent finish and then produced a magnificent defensive challenge to prevent Hojlund from scoring a late winner. 8 "BELTER." 🎙️A fine Declan Rice strike draws Arsenal level! — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025 Teenage sensation could not produce any spark in the final third on this occasion. He was well managed by Dalot as he tried to cut inside. 5 Simply does not look comfortable as a centre-forward, understandably. Dragged an early shot wide before moving into midfield. Almost gave away a late goal. 5 Curled wide from the edge of the box and almost reached Odegaard's scooped pass. Busy without ever looking likely to really hurt United's defence. 6 Substitutes Martinelli (Nwaneri 58)Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori 58)Tierney (Partey 76) Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kaoru Mitoma magic helps Brighton put pitiful Chelsea to sword
Two months ago, the Chelsea supporters were joyously singing that they 'had their Chelsea back'. Those were the glory days of December, when a title charge looked like a genuine possibility for a squad stacked with quality options in almost every position. An hour into this drubbing by Brighton, their second loss to the same opponent in the space of just one week, those Chelsea fans changed their tune rather dramatically. 'We want our Chelsea back,' they demanded. Clearly, life moves quickly in elite-level football. And clearly, Chelsea are moving quickly in the wrong direction. The late-2024 optimism has been replaced by early-2025 angst as their squad suddenly – and remarkably, given the extraordinary levels of investment – looks genuinely short of options. The absence of a recognised striker was one of their problems here but Enzo Maresca's issues go far deeper than that. Chelsea were once again beaten by the better team at the Amex Stadium, where Brighton delighted in this dismantling of the club that has so often snatched their brightest talents in recent years. Brighton's brilliance is in their resilience. They can lose players such as Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella to Chelsea but they always seem to have more stars and more options waiting to come through. On this occasion it was the genius of Kaoru Mitoma that turned the match in their favour and ultimately set Fabian Hurzeler's side on course for victory. Mitoma famously wrote a thesis on dribbling techniques during his time at university in Japan. On the evidence of the astonishing goal he produced here, he is more than capable of producing another one on the art of the first touch. His piece of skill, plucking the ball from the night's sky as he ran behind the Chelsea defence, will rank as one of the goals of the season. It is hard to imagine a more visually appealing goal being scored than this one, which prompted immediate comparisons to the great Dennis Bergkamp. "A touch from the heavens" 💫Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma puts the hosts in front with an OUTRAGEOUS goal 😮💨 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025 Mitoma's magic represented the standout moment but there were other joys for the home supporters, who saw Yankuba Minteh score either side of half-time to confirm victory. It might have been even more in the end, with Chelsea simply unable to keep up with the running power and imaginative thinking of their opponents. Far from being in a title race, Chelsea are now locked in a battle for the Champions League places. After this defeat, they could end the weekend in fifth. The mood at Stamford Bridge could quickly darken again. "It's incredible, what a goal" 🤩Danny Welbeck reacts to Mitoma's wonder goal 👏 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025 'It was great. It is a big three points. It has been a massive couple of weeks for us after a horrible result and it was important we reacted in the right way.' On Kaoru Mitoma's goal: 'When I saw his first touch. I have seen him do it countless times in training. It was impeccable. It was a thing of beauty. It was amazing. Great goal. 'He has a great first touch. I have seen it in training all the time and he has a way of evading a defender with his first touch. It is not through luck, he has worked on it his whole career. I am so pleased we got the win today. It puts us on the right track to finish the season strongly.' On bouncing back: 'There was obviously something wrong against Nottingham Forest. We had to look at ourselves and have some honest conversations in the dressing room and with the manager. It was something we could not just gloss over. We had to have that feeling of what it was like and carry it with us.' 'We felt a lot of control in the game. Three goals and a clean sheet. What more can you ask for. 'We speak about it and train on the pitch for it. I saw him in behind and he had an unbelievable touch.' "Everybody is trying to hold me like their own brother"Yankuba Minteh is feeling the love at Brighton 💙 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025 This feels pointed. — Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) February 14, 2025 Pete Nicholls: 'Brighton ..... Swiss watch tonight !! Mitoma ...Priceless !!' Andrew Ridge: 'Maresca is a total waste of space. The club needs some good news and the removal of Maresca would be a start. No doubt he will blame Felix for tonight's result seems to have blamed him for previous defeats.' Barry White: 'That's your goal of the genius.' Steve Fozard: 'Looks like Chelsea will have to buy even more Brighton players.' Paul Morley: 'Wonderful stuff. Well played Brighton - again.' "It was dominant from Brighton" 💨Gary Neville is impressed with Brighton's play after their victory against Chelsea. — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025 The most striking aspect of that Chelsea drubbing (apart the Mitoma wondergoal) was how lightweight they looked. It felt like Brighton were stronger, faster and smarter all over the pitch. Reminder: Chelsea have paid £225m in recent years to poach Brighton's players and staff. — Sam Dean (@SamJDean) February 14, 2025 A very token effort by majority of #CFC players to go over to the away end after the final whistle. Looked like it took assistant coach Willy Caballero to get the players to even walk Reece James the only one to go anywhere close. — Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) February 14, 2025 Fabian Hurzeler. Top manager. 💙🤍 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 14, 2025 0 - Despite averaging just under 70% possession, Chelsea failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game for the first time since September 2021 (v Manchester City). Unusual. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 14, 2025 'Chelsea have got to get back to winning games as soon as possible or this season can really unravel for them. The European competition that they are in is almost not a competition that Chelsea should be in. 'Even if they win that, I do not think there will be much credit for them. Of course it is an improvement from last season at this stage but you have got to remember that team last season under [Mauricio] Pochettino with 14 games to go, only lost one of them. I am not looking at a team here that is not going to lose one of their next 13. 'They have a lot on to actually improve on what happened last season. This team is not good enough.' 'Chelsea have been absolutely outclassed in every department. 'There is nothing he [Enzo Maresca] can say but hold his hands up and apologise for how poor it has been. There are no mitigating circumstances - nothing to do with the referee. You have just got to take your medicine.' Possession: Brighton 30%-70% Chelsea Shots: 13-8 Shots on target: 5-0 Corners: 2-9 Touches in opposition box: 22-24 Tonight: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea Saturday: Leicester vs Arsenal Aston Villa vs Ipswich Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Manchester City vs Newcastle Southampton vs Bournemouth West Ham vs Brentford Crystal Palace vs Everton Sunday: Liverpool vs Wolves Tottenham vs Manchester United There is the final whistle and Brighton have eased to a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Mitoma and a double from Minteh. Two victories in a week for Brighton against Chelsea; one in the FA Cup last weekend and tonight's in the Premier League. Five goals scored for Brighton in those two games and just one conceded. Brighton have moved up into eighth place. A Valentine's Day to remember for Brighton fans, one to forget for Chelsea fans. FT: ANOTHER WIN AGAINST CHELSEA! 😍[3-0] 📲 #BHACHE // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 14, 2025 The Brighton fans have decided it is time for some oles as they close in on the three points. Lamptey is found just inside the Chelsea penalty area on the left-hand side but his effort misses to the left. He cut across the ball too much and it never threatened Jorgensen's goal. There will be six added minutes. Brighton make their final change as Minteh is replaced by Adingra. Warm applause for Minteh, who scored Brighton's second and third goals tonight. George is found in behind and sends the ball across the six-yard box from the right-hand side of the penalty area. Webster nearly puts it into his own net but Verbruggen steps in with a big save down to his left. Cucurella tries to pick out a teammate from the left-hand side of the box but Brighton intercept and clear their lines. Ayari is only just on but lifts a delightful ball into the box to pick out Veltman, who allows it to bounce and then strikes against the post. Looking at the replays Veltman was just onside as he made the run into the box and Jorgensen got a small touch on it to push it onto the post. Some Chelsea fans have already had enough as they start their trip back to west London. Brighton are making a double change as Welbeck and Baleba are coming off to be replaced by Ayari and O'Riley. Minteh is booked after getting into a scrap with Cucurella. Chelsea have had over 70% possession but have yet to register a shot on target. Minteh sends in a great delivery from a free-kick out on the left and picks out Pedro but the Brazilian cannot keep his header down. That was a decent chance for Pedro, who could have had a couple of goals already since coming on. Pedro could have been on the scoresheet with pretty much his first touch. Jorgensen plays a dreadful ball out from his own box and Pedro has a great chance from just outside the box but his shot misses the target with Jorgensen out of his goal. Double change for Brighton as Pedro and Gomez are on for Rutter and Hinshelwood. Brighton counter and this is a great opportunity for a fourth for the hosts. Mitoma keeps going all the way into the Chelsea box but his shot is straight at Jorgensen. Mitoma always looked like he wanted to pass to Minteh and he was afforded so much space by Dewsbury-Hall but he could not bury the chance. George skips past Lamptey on the right-hand edge of the Brighton box and he wins a corner off Webster. Chelsea take it short and Palmer sends in a dangerous ball, which is headed behind by Webster for another corner. Palmer's delivery does not beat the first man and Veltman heads away. Chelsea have another corner out on the left. If they have any chance of getting back in this game they have to score from these chances. The ball is sent into a dangerous area and Brighton fight to clear their lines and eventually they do. It has kicked off since the goal and Fernandez has been booked. Chelsea have made a triple change as James, George and Dewsbury-Hall have replaced Gusto, Neto and Caicedo. The Brighton fans jeer Caicedo as he heads off. Game, set and match? Minteh and Welbeck exchange a neat one-two inside the Chelsea penalty area. Minteh cuts inside Cucurella like he did for his first goal and his shot takes a deflection off Chalobah past Jorgensen into the net. Terrible defending from Chelsea. Chelsea wanted a free-kick in the build-up but Colwill went down too easily. Gusto is going to try and continue for now. James was getting ready to come on but Gusto is attempting to play on. The Chelsea fans appear to be signing: 'We want our Chelsea back.' In December, they were singing 'we've got our Chelsea back.' After fouling Rutter on the edge of the Brighton box, Gusto has stayed down and he might have to come off. It appears he has hurt his hip. Nkunku is found down the left channel and his cross is diverted behind by Veltman for a corner. Fernandez sends in the inswinger but he cannot beat the first man as Veltman heads away. Chelsea have a corner on the left in front of their fans, which they take short. Fernandez then sends in the delivery but Verbruggen easily takes the catch. Minteh sets up a good opportunity for Rutter on the edge of the box but he is leaning back as he takes the shot and blazes his shot miles over the bar, basically into space. Fernandex has gone down clutching his face after Veltman slightly caught him. It was the faintest of touches yet Fernandez went down like a sack of potatoes. Brighton are then furious that Chelsea did not give the ball back despite the hosts putting it out of play when Fernandez went down. Baleba is penalised for a foul on Gusto inside his own half and that is not a foul. Baleba would have been away and initially referee Chris Kavanagh was not going to give it but eventually blew his whistle. This gives Chelsea the chance to send it into the box. Fernandez clips it in and Colwill flicks it on but the offside flag goes up. Pretty much every Chelsea player who had gone up for that free-kick was offside. We are back under way at the Amex Stadium. No changes at the break. 'This is really special. [Dennis] Bergkamp did the same at Leicester and he is one of the greatest players we have seen. Almost an artist on the pitch. 'The balance, touch and the way he shifts it to the side. It is brilliant. The goalkeeper should save it, it is not in the corner and it is not a good moment for him.' Possession: Brighton 28%-72% Chelsea Shots: 4-6 Shots on target: 2-0 Corners: 2-3 Touches in opposition box: 11-10 Tonight: Brighton 2-0 Chelsea HT Saturday: Leicester vs Arsenal Aston Villa vs Ipswich Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Manchester City vs Newcastle Southampton vs Bournemouth West Ham vs Brentford Crystal Palace vs Everton Sunday: Liverpool vs Wolves Tottenham vs Manchester United That is it for the first half and Brighton lead 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Mitoma and Minteh. Chelsea have a corner late in this first half. Fernandez sends in an inswinger from the left, which is put behind for another corner by Veltman. Fernandez then takes it short and eventually Chelsea get it into the box but Brighton clear. There will be four added minutes at the end of this first half, owing to Madueke's injury. That is one of the easiest decisions referee Chris Kavanagh is going to have to make tonight. Mitoma gets to the ball first and plays it beyond Caicedo, who was sliding in and fouls Mitoma. The former Brighton man is shown a yellow card. Gusto tries to curl one into the top corner from just outside the box and he is not far off finding it but it goes just wide. The hosts are two goals to the good. Rutter plays the ball across from the left-hand side of the box and Colwill blocks with Welbeck behind him. Chelsea cannot clear and Welbeck rolls the ball into the path of Minteh, who cuts inside Cucurella and slots home from around six yards out to double Brighton's advantage. Welbeck did look like he may have been offside as Rutter played the ball across but he was behind the ball so VAR clears it. The Brighton fans are enquiring as to whether they could play Chelsea every week. That makes four goals against Maresca's side in one and half games this week. Minteh doubles Brighton's advantage! 🔵Rutter and Welbeck in the build-up 👏 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025 Chelsea have the ball in the net but referee Chris Kavanagh has blown his whistle for a free-kick. Gusto sends in a cross from the right which Fernandez heads past Verbruggen but he had clearly shoved Veltman in the back before heading the ball so the right call to give a free-kick. Cucurella finds Neto at the back post and the Portuguese forward looks certain to score but Webster slides in with a crucial block. Terrific defending. Chelsea have a corner out on the right, which Palmer will take. He sends in the inswinger which van Hecke heads out to the edge of the box. Fernandez then hits a shot over claiming there was a deflection but a goal-kick is given. Neto takes on a shot from the left-hand side of the box but his effort goes high and wide. Brighton take the lead and what a way to do it. Verbruggen plays a long ball over the top of the Chelsea defence and Mitoma brings it down beautifully having watched it all the way down. He cuts inside Chalobah and curls into the far corner. Jorgensen got a touch on it but could prevent it from going into the net. That touch from Mitoma was outstanding; Jamie Carragher on Sky described it as 'Messi-esque'. That is an astonishingly good first touch by Mitoma. An outrageous piece of control. One of the best goals of the season so far, for sure. "A touch from the heavens" 💫Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma puts the hosts in front with an OUTRAGEOUS goal 😮💨 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2025 Mitoma goes down half-heartedly under a challenge from Gusto but he knew as he went down that it was not a foul. It was a good chance for the Brighton forward as he ran at Gusto just inside the Chelsea box. Madueke's night is over with a hamstring injury. He is going to be replaced by Sancho and Madueke has gone straight down the tunnel. Chelsea have suffered a few hamstring injuries in recent weeks and there is another. The England manager Thomas Tuchel is in the stands tonight as is Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman. Looks like a potential hamstring problem for Madueke. Yet another Premier League hamstring injury. Not what Chelsea needed, given the injuries to Jackson and Guiu and the ongoing absence of Mudryk. Wasted opportunity for Chelsea. They are in down the right and the ball is fed forward onto Madueke, who looked like he may have been offside anyway. He cuts it back to Palmer on the edge of the box, but he is leaning back as he takes the first-time effort and it goes well wide. Concern for the visitors now as Madueke is down. Welbeck is in on the left-hand side of the box and his shot is blocked behind for a corner, the first of the night. The hosts play it short and win another corner. Minteh sends it in again but Welbeck's header is immediately blocked. The Brighton faithful are demanding a yellow card for Cucurella after a nasty looking challenge on Minteh but referee Chris Kavanagh does not agree. Just a talking to but, looking at the replays, it should have been a yellow card. That is only going to increase Brighton's annoyance at Cururella. Fresh from buying a stake in The Hundred team Trent Rockets, Todd Boehly is watching the football club he co-owns. Madueke plays the ball on to the overlapping Neto on the right hand side of the box but his cross is cut out and Brighton clear their lines. In these early stages Chelsea have had nearly 80% possession but yet to carve out a genuine goalscoring opportunity. It's still very early in this game so this could yet change but it seems that Cole Palmer is effectively playing as the striker for Chelsea tonight. It looks like he and Christopher Nkunku have swapped from last week's game. Nkunku had a difficult night as the centre-forward on that occasion, and he appears to be playing deeper than Palmer here. I'm sure Palmer will drop into midfield regularly, though. Madueke should do better as Palmer picks him out from the right-hand side of the penalty area but his touch is poor as he had slightly overrun it and Brighton clear. Gusto keeps running and running down the right touchline from deep inside his own half and Hinshelwood cannot keep up. He cuts it back to Palmer just outside the box but his effort goes high and wide. The Brighton defenders did a good job of closing him down to put him off. As you would expect, Cucurella's first touch is met with a chorus of boos as will every touch as he has tonight. Expect the same for Caicedo. It was tense during the FA Cup tie last weekend with the number of former Brighton players in the Chelsea ranks and it will likely be exactly the same during this match. We are under way at the Amex Stadium. Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off on the south coast. Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Webster, Lamptey, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Welbeck. Substitutes: Rushworth, Gruda, Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Gomez, Ayari, Wieffer, O'Riley. Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Neto, Palmer, Madueke, Nkunku. Substitutes: Sanchez, Adarabioyo, Sancho, Dewsbury-Hall, James, Anselmino, George, Acheampong, Amougou. 'It is about getting players on the pitch and giving them the opportunity. Regardless of their age or where they come from. I think we do that really well. 'It is being consistent. Not every signing works. We give people time, sometimes it takes six months sometimes it is longer. We can afford to be patience but some clubs cannot. We try and avoid that. 'We always plan for the future. The work we did in this window has been for the future. Something we do well is always having the replacement in the building before we need them. We are very data driven and we are confident in the one we use. Everyone in the club believes in it.' A stat that feels quite remarkable: this will be only the sixth Premier League start of Christopher Nkunku's Chelsea career. He joined the club for £52 million in the summer of 2023. That's a long time ago and, while fitness issues explain that to an extent, they do not tell the full story. The simple fact is that Nkunku has failed to make a meaningful impact in English football. With the Frenchman leading the line tonight, Chelsea need that to change. PS it is very, very cold in Brighton. 'Lewis [Dunk] is a special captain for this club but Adam [Webster] is also a leader. Hopefully he shows a good performance. 'It was important to bounce back [after the 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest]. Each player showed character and took responsibility, they proved it last weekend and need to prove it again. 'You have to do basics the same again; be intense, wins duels and out run them. Tactically there will be one or two details but it is decided by the basics. I demand even more than we did last weekend.' 'The minute you make a mistake, the pressure comes on you. As a young goalkeeper at a club like Chelsea, it is tough. 'It is difficult to get him [Robert Sanchez] back in but it is early in [Filip] Jorgensen's career. I hope he does well. 'It is the most important player on the pitch.' Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton predecessor Roberto De Zerbi, but has refused to compliment the German head coach. Chelsea head coach Maresca claimed he has 'no problem' with Hürzeler, but simply replied 'thank you very much' and ended his pre-match press conference when asked if he thinks the 31-year-old is a top coach. The direct question came after Maresca had answered questions on Hürzeler by insisting that De Zerbi, whom he played with in AC Milan's youth team, is a top coach. For more from Matt Law, click here. 'It [Brighton's FA Cup win against Chelsea] will give them huge confidence. Do not forget they came off the back of the worst result they have had in years [7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest]. 'They will come in with confidence but it will be tough. Brighton are in a funny situation, they are in a good position but with the money they have spent, but they might be looking at Bournemouth and Forest thinking that is where they should be.' In the blue and white corner... 💙🤍 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 14, 2025 Tonight: Brighton vs Chelsea Saturday: Leicester vs Arsenal Aston Villa vs Ipswich Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Manchester City vs Newcastle Southampton vs Bournemouth West Ham vs Brentford Crystal Palace vs Everton Sunday: Liverpool vs Wolves Tottenham vs Manchester United 'We started so well in the first part of the season but now we struggle with results. 'The performance for me is there. I think we are the third best attacking in the Premier League but from now we might not score as many goals.' On Reece James being excluded from the starting line-up: 'Reece we need to manage, we want him fit always. We need to find a solution. Last game we decided to have a rest. He is fit and good, hopefully he can get some minutes tonight.' 'We started so well in the first part of the season but now we struggle with results. 'The performance for me is there. I think we are the third best attacking in the Premier League but from now we might not score as many goals.' Brighton make one change to the side that started their FA Cup win over Chelsea. Adam Webster comes in for captain Lewis Dunk, who misses out because of the rib injury he suffered in that FA Cup victory. Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Webster, Lamptey, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Welbeck. Substitutes: Rushworth, Gruda, Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Gomez, Ayari, Wieffer, O'Riley. Chelsea make four changes to the side lost to Brighton. Filip Jorgensen, who is now the club's first-choice goalkeeper, replaces Robert Sanchez in goal. Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke also come into the starting XI, replacing Tosin Adarabioyo, Jadon Sancho and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Neto, Palmer, Madueke, Nkunku. Substitutes: Sanchez, Adarabioyo, Sancho, Dewsbury-Hall, James, Anselmino, George, Acheampong, Amougou. Checked-in. 👊#CFC | #BHACHE — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 14, 2025 'Unfortunately in the domestic cups, in both, we are out. But our journey in the Premier League has been fantastic until today. And the conference has been fantastic until today. 'We are going to try to finish in the best way we can. I said that many times, do not forget that in the last two years, Chelsea has never been top four. And this year we spent almost our season in top four. 'This shows you and everyone that we are in the right direction. Now we are going to try our best to finish and to bring this club where this club belongs to be in the Champions League. 'We are going to try our best. And then we will see at the end. But our journey in the Premier League and conference has been fantastic until today.' 📸✨ — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 14, 2025 Your Friday night Blues. 💙#CFC | #BHACHE — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 14, 2025 TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Here's our starting XI to take on @ChelseaFC tonight. 👀📝 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 14, 2025 Brighton welcome Chelsea to the south coast in the Premier League in a repeat of last weekend's FA Cup fourth-round tie. Fabian Hurzeler's side came from behind to win 2-1 to progress to the FA Cup fifth round. Former Brighton players Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo were involved for Chelsea, which created plenty of emotion from the Brighton faithful. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler likes the tension but also wants to see his side show cool heads. 'I think the tension is there,' said Hurzeler. 'You can feel it in the stadium because a lot of players who played for Brighton in the past play now for Chelsea, so you can feel that the crowd is not happy about that. 'I like that we have this tension because it shows that we are ready to fight against them, you are ready to fight against a big opponent, and it is always the main thing. You need to have the right attitude towards games like this, you need to have the right mindset. 'I love it when it is a little bit emotional - it is very important to stay calm in the right moments, to make the right decisions, to not get too emotional because then you lose the cool head. It is very important to have the mix. If we can get the energy out of this rivalry, out of these tensions, then we can use it as an advantage.' Although they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup last weekend, their previous Premier League match ended in a huge defeat. They lost 7-0 at Nottingham Forest, their heaviest defeat since August 1958. They have won just two of their last 12 league games and are sat in 10th place. Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is a major doubt with a rib injury. They remain without Pervis Estupinan, Ferdi Kadioglu and James Milner through injury, while Solly March has resumed training but is unlikely to feature. Mats Wieffer could return from a nine-game absence. Chelsea, who currently sit fourth in the Premier League, are without a win on the road in the league since a 4-3 win at Tottenham in early December and have managed just nine points from their last eight league games. Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Filip Jorgensen is now Chelsea's number one goalkeeper ahead of Robert Sanchez for now. Chelsea will be without striker Nicolas Jackson until after the March international break with a muscular injury. Fellow striker Marc Guiu is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are in the process of returning to full fitness. Chelsea have beaten Brighton in the last three Premier League meetings with Brighton's only victory in nine league meetings at home was a 4-1 win in October 2022. Team news to follow shortly. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
