Chelsea Edge Brighton 4-3 But Defensive Worries Persist

Chelsea survived a late Brighton & Hove Albion fightback to win 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, but the performance under new head coach Xabi Alonso left lingering doubts about the team's defensive stability. The victory came after a turbulent period for the club, which began with last April's humiliating defeat to Brighton. That result accelerated the departure of manager Liam Rosenior and forced the Stamford Bridge hierarchy into a major overhaul, leading to Alonso's appointment, a shift in transfer strategy, the arrival of the so-called JP Morgan front three, and the end of Robert Sánchez's time as the No 1 goalkeeper.