Chelsea extended their perfect start under manager Xabi Alonso with a pulsating 4-3 victory over Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Blues, who finished a dismal 10th last season, have now won all three of their opening Premier League matches, scoring nine goals in the process.

The hosts took the lead in the fourth minute when Romeo Lavia scored his first goal for the club since joining from Southampton in 2023. Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and defender Mats Wieffer failed to clear a corner, and Lavia poked the ball home from close range.

Pedro Neto doubled the advantage in the 14th minute, finishing clinically after a surging run from Morgan Rogers. It was the Portuguese winger's first league goal since December, and he was rewarded for his selection ahead of Reece James.

Joao Pedro, facing his former club, made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute with a composed finish from Jorrel Hato's pass. The Brazilian celebrated with a thumbs-down gesture aimed at the Brighton fans, who had been jeering him throughout the match.

Brighton pulled one back through Malick Yalcouye's fierce volley in the 35th minute, but Cole Palmer restored Chelsea's two-goal cushion in the 74th minute with a fine strike from the edge of the area. Pascal Gross scored a late header in stoppage time, but it was not enough to prevent Chelsea from taking all three points.

New signing Emiliano Martinez made his debut in goal, having completed a £7.5 million move from Aston Villa just hours earlier. The 33-year-old Argentine, brought in to replace the error-prone Robert Sanchez, made several key saves and was warmly applauded by the home fans.

Chelsea's next challenge is a trip to Premier League champions Arsenal on September 6. Alonso has revitalized the attack, but defensive frailties remain, with four goals conceded in three games. The future of Enzo Fernandez is also uncertain, as the midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester City and missed his second consecutive match.

Source: www.aljazeera.com