Brighton hold Chelsea to draw
Blues in danger of losing ground in title race with Man City, Liverpool ahead of them
Brighton, Jan. 19: European champions Chelsea surrendered a narrow lead against Brighton for the second time in a month as both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
The Blues took an early advantage against the run of play when Hakim Ziyech’s snapshot caught Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez by surprise.
But the Blues have now just one of their last seven league games as Adam Webster’s towering header earned Brighton a fully deserved point.
Thomas Tuchel was critical of his forward players after a 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, but kept faith with Romelu Lukaku and Ziyech in attack as Timo Werner and Kai Havertz were again left on the bench.
There was little to impress the German once more as Chelsea’s slump leaves them looking over their shoulders at the contenders for a top-four finish rather than a title challenge.
Brighton have only won twice in their last 16 league games, but once again just lacked the cutting edge to their impressive build-up play.
After a bright opening, the hosts were hit with a sucker punch when Ziyech justified his inclusion with a powerful low effort that Sanchez should have done better to save down to his left.
But the Blues’ reprieve did not last long as from the resulting corner, Webster was given a free run to power home from Mac Allister’s cross.
Chelsea host Tottenham on Sunday in their final league game for nearly a month due to an international break and their commitments at the Club World Cup in February.
If Tuchel’s men fail to turn things around at Stamford Bridge, they could return from Abu Dhabi with their place in the top four under severe threat as the chasing pack make up their games in hand. —