Summary

  • Morata, Fabregas & Cahill start for Chelsea

  • Duffy, Schelotto, Kayal & Izquierdo in for Brighton

  1. CLOSE!published at 48 mins

    Chelsea 1-0 Brighton

    There were just 52 seconds on the clock in that second half when Alvaro Morata netted. The goal totally changes the complexion of things and now Brighton have to offer more. I'm not so sure they have it in their locker.

    Eden Hazard lashes a low shot just wide, pouncing on a smart Tiemoue Bakayoko touch.

  2. goal

    GOAL - Chelsea 1-0 Brightonpublished at 46 mins

    Alvaro Morata

    What did I say two entries ago? Alvaro Morata isn't showing he's £60m worth.

    In comes a Cesar Azpilicueta cross and there's Morata, laughing at me as he shapes to head low into the net.

    Eat that live-text commentator.

    Premier LeagueImage source, Rex Features
  3. KICK-OFFpublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Jonathan Pearce
    BBC Match of the Day commentator at Stamford Bridge

    Can Chelsea find a way through this well-disciplined Brighton formation?

  4. Postpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Chelsea 0-0 BrightonImage source, .

    Well Chelsea, as you've asked, I'll go with "not good enough".

    Alvaro Morata has had 19 touches and I'm still not convinced he's £60m worth of striker on what he's done in the Premier League so far.

    Here come both teams...

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    HazardImage source, Reuters

    Ridwan Bello: Chelsea is playing like they haven't had a proper training session in weeks!! Disjointed and poor to watch.

    Yousuf Ali: Chelsea desperately need a striker. Sadly I don't think the board sees that as a priority.

    Blues Blossom: Hazard looks knackered. Slow, laboured runs and poor ball control.

  6. Postpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    As you can see, more of the ball for the home side and plenty of shots. The stats look one-sided but in truth it's not really been a siege.

    Chelsea 0-0 BrightonImage source, .
  7. Postpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Jonathan Pearce
    BBC Match of the Day commentator at Stamford Bridge

    Brighton well organised but is there a 'plan B' for the visitors if they go behind?

  8. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    An intriguing half which has not really burst into life. Tiemoue Bakayoko and Victor Moses with the best chances. Remember Chelsea have won three of their last six home games by a goal to nil.

  9. Postpublished at 45+1 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante and Alvaro Morata link in midfield. Chelsea's last attack of the half. Cesar Azpilicueta puts a curling cross into the mixer and Morata leaps... well wide.

  10. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    We will have one added minute...

  11. Postpublished at 43 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Eden Hazard on the ball again... Chelsea's clear threat. He runs at Lewis Dunk near the right edge of the area... drilled low cross... it sticks to the gloves of Mat Ryan.

  12. Postpublished at 42 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard look to inject some pace into an attack - Alvaro Morata is down and out of the game. They carry on regardless down the right flank and Hazard bursts into the area... this is a good position... Hazard is forced out well by Markus Suttner, who concedes a corner.

  13. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    HazardImage source, Reuters

    It's been one of those days for Chelsea so far.

    Remember they had 25 shots against Everton last time out. Just the seven so far today and only two on target.

    Cesc Fabregas has shot number eight... 20 yards... held by Mat Ryan.

    HazardImage source, Reuters
  14. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Ezequiel Schelotto has had seven clubs in Germany and with long hair and a leggy running style, he isn't all too easy on the eye.

    But he's been effective here with 30 touches from his berth at right-back and 21 passes. He has completed 90% of them and carries his side to the halfway line with a driving run.

  15. Postpublished at 33 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Chelsea's possession is now up to 57% so they are seeing more of the ball courtesy of a good few minutes. Notably, they have variety in what they are doing with both wing-backs in demand.

    Antonio Rudiger looks for the run of Cesc Fabregas but his ball is fractionally over-hit. Fabregas had ghosted into the area.

  16. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Brighton's fans cheer every pass as their side enjoy a little possession. A ball is fizzed into Tomer Hemed on halfway but his flick on to Solly March goes out.

    Chelsea will have it back. Again it's Eden Hazard who they look for to make something happen and he's fouled 45 yards from goal.

    Cesc Fabregas will float this in... headed away by Davy Propper.

  17. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Davy Propper looks to float a cross in for Tomer Hemed but that's a pig in blanket for Thibaut Courtois - easy pickings.

  18. CLOSE!published at 25 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    Chelsea have their second big chance of the game.

    Cesc Fabregas' eye for a pass could be key today against such a well-drilled defence. He lofts a diagonal ball over as Victor Moses latches on to volley it first time. It's a low save for Mat Ryan.

    Moses could have done more arguably. Superb ball from Fabregas.

  19. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    MorataImage source, Reuters

    It's a well-organised Brighton. The five-man midfield gives them a natural width to their defensive work. The ball is played to the left flank and Marcos Alonso but Solly March can quickly snap at his heels because of the width of their shape.

    They narrow up as an attack threatens more centrally and Beram Kayal blocks an N'Golo Kante shot.

  20. Postpublished at 21 mins

    Chelsea 0-0 Brighton

    As you can see from the stats, Brighton's uplift in intent sees possession split fairly evenly after 20 minutes.

    Alvaro Morata - up front for Chelsea - is the quietest of all the outfield players though with just seven touches so far.

    Chelsea 0-0 BrightonImage source, .