Chelsea’s fearsome front three stretched Xabi Alonso’s perfect start at Stamford Bridge in a thrilling 4-3 win over Brighton on Sunday, while Leeds fought back to hold Brentford 1-1.
Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored as Alonso’s reign kicked off with a 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday.
Emi Martinez was thrown straight into goal for his Chelsea debut just hours after sealing his move from Aston Villa and became the first player over 30 to start a league game for the Blues in more than two years in the process. Brighton were 4-0 up inside 31 minutes against Villa last weekend, but this time found themselves three goals down in just over half an hour. Pedro and Palmer were on target once more, while Rogers teed up Chelsea’s second goal scored by Pedro Neto as the Blues held off a rally from Brighton that threatened to snatch a point. Romeo Lavia profited from a mix-up between Bart Verbruggen and Mats Wieffer to prod in the opening goal from a corner. Diego Gomez fired just wide and Martinez denied Olivier Boscagli an equaliser as Chelsea were suddenly clinging on. Gross headed in a stoppage time consolation for Brighton, but Chelsea join City and Hull as the only two sides to take six points from their opening two games.
