Chelsea started confidently, but instead of scoring early, this time we conceded one early by making a mess of a simple clearance in the 7th minute.

A relatively tame first twenty minutes then turned absolutely frenzied, with Chelsea repeatedly exploiting Brighton’s high line. Palmer should have scored but hit the post, then scored but was ruled out for offside and then scored for real after Jackson clipped an underhit backpass.

And then the mmmm madness of the next 20 minutes really began. Sancho had a goal disallowed for offside and then won a penalty, which Palmer converted. Palmer then completed his ten-minute hat-trick with a superb free-kick into the top corner from 30 yards out. We then gifted another goal to Brighton before Madueke missed a sitter and Palmer scored his fourth of the half.

Eight (8!) minutes of stoppage time in the first half passed without incident before Chelsea created big chances again at the start of the second half. Adam Webster saved at least two goals for Brighton, including a goal-line clearance from Jackson’s shot.

The match then settled down a bit, with both sides also making changes.

Cucurella then had a goal disallowed for offside again before Brighton started to apply some pressure to make things interesting for the final, especially as Jackson continued to miss his chances.

But we were able to get stronger defensively and see the advantage of two goals.

Carefree.

• Only one change from last weekend, when Malo Gusto returned for Tosin.
• Chelsea with 36% possession in the first half
• Palmer is the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before half-time
• Palmer’s third (third!) hat-trick for Chelsea already
• Welcome back, Roméo Lavia
• Welcome back to the top four!
• Next up: Ghent in our first UEFA Conference League match
• KTBFFH

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