Chelsea have been on the receiving finish of a Valentine’s Day bloodbath following a 3-0 thrashing at Brighton – their second defeat on the Amex Stadium in six days.
The Blues had revenge on their thoughts after dropping 2-1 to the Seagulls of their FA Cup fourth spherical conflict final weekend.
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Nonetheless it bought worse for Enzo Maresca’s aspect on Friday night time with the west London outfit humiliated on the south coast.
The three-0 loss is their worst defeat in all competitions this season – and heaviest since their 5-0 thumping away at Arsenal in April 2024.
Objectives from Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh despatched the hosts 2-0 up going into the break.
And Minteh sealed the victory along with his second of the match within the 63rd minute to ship Brighton as much as eighth within the desk.
However for Chelsea, it was one other efficiency to overlook as they did not muster a single shot heading in the right direction.
That’s the first time that has occurred within the Premier League since September 2021 after dropping 1-0 to Manchester Metropolis at Stamford Bridge.
It is the fourth time this century that Chelsea have now did not have a shot heading in the right direction.
The primary got here in September 2007 when Avram Grant’s aspect misplaced 2-0 to Manchester United in 2017.
And ten years later, it was Antonio Conte’s flip to document the undesirable stat in one other 2-0 defeat to the Purple Devils.
Extremely, Chelsea had 70 per cent possession at Brighton, however created subsequent to nothing because the guests missed the possibility to spice up their Champions League qualification hopes.
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Their solely shot heading in the right direction proved to be Enzo Fernandez’s first half header which nestled into the again of the online – although that was finally dominated out.
The Argentine midfielder was accurately adjudged to have pushed Joel Veltman within the again simply earlier than he bought his head on Malo Gusto’s cross.
And in one other blow for Chelsea, they misplaced winger Noni Madueke within the first half with what seemed to be a hamstring knock.
Talking to talkSPORT after the match, Maresca said: “For positive, we’re going to lose him for some time.”
Chelsea are already within the midst of a mini-forward harm disaster with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu injured, whereas Mykhailo Mudryk is at the moment suspended.
And in an interview with Sky Sports activities, he failed to cover his disappointment at his squad.
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He remarked: “We’re in a second after we really feel we are able to concede simply and wrestle to attain.
“I believe earlier than the objective they did not have some probabilities. There are a lot of issues we are able to do higher.”
Earlier than including: “I really feel sorry for the followers. It isn’t the suitable efficiency that we are able to supply, particularly at this second within the season. We have to stick collectively.
“I really feel strain at all times. Tonight, the efficiency was the worst since I arrived so it’s not the suitable second.
“However we’re nonetheless in fourth and within the race to complete in Europe.”
Victory for fourth-placed Chelsea at Brighton would have seen them shut the hole on Nottingham Forest in third to 1 level.
However they might fall to as a low as sixth come the tip of the weekend if outcomes go towards them.
Extremely, Chelsea had the possibility to go prime on December 22 had they beat Everton at Goodison Park.
Nonetheless after two wins of their final 9 top-flight matches, Chelsea now sit 14 factors behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
And that hole might prolong to 17 factors ought to the Reds emerge victories over Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.