5 Chelsea players who underperformed against Brighton & Hove Albion | Premier League 2021-22
Eager to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea made the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion for their Premier League matchday 23 clash on Tuesday night.
Unfortunately, the Blues once again failed to live up to the billing and had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw. It marked the club's second 1-1 draw with Brighton in three weeks, with Danny Welbeck's injury-time goal canceling out Romelu Lukaku's first-half opener on 30th December.
At the Amex Stadium, Thomas Tuchel fielded a strong XI, hoping to get an early lead. The hosts, however, had other ideas and started the match with poise, power and precision. They could’ve easily been ahead inside three minutes had Jakub Moder's low drive been on-target.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's first shot came around the 15-minute mark through Cesar Azpilicueta, but it wasn’t convincing enough to breach Brighton’s resistance.
Despite being the second-best side at the Amex Stadium, it was Tuchel’s team that went ahead just before the half-hour mark. Chelsea broke against the run of play and Hakim Ziyech dispatched a fine left-footed shot to beat Albion keeper Robert Sanchez.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, the hosts were back on level terms, courtesy of a smart, powerful header by Adam Webster. Both sides tried to find the winning goal in the last half-hour but they barely had any juice left in the tank. The draw leaves the London outfit in third place, two points behind second-placed Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
Here are five Chelsea players who disappointed in their 1-1 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night:
#5 Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku, who was recently in the eye of controversy following his controversial interview with Sky Italia, was expected to make a telling impact against the midtable unit. But the Belgian flattered to deceive once again.
Romelu Lukaku booed off the pitch by Chelsea fans
Brighton marked him closely and did not let him get many touches in and around the penalty box. The former Everton man had only two shots, one of which was blocked and the other saved.
#4 Jorginho
The Blues' midfield maestro endured an uncharacteristically sloppy night at the Amex Stadium.
His passing, although accurate, did not generate any momentum, and his movement was far from what we’ve come to expect from him.
No player has scored more goals in all competitions for Chelsea since the beginning of last season than Jorginho 
😯 No player has scored more goals in all competitions for Chelsea since the beginning of last season than Jorginho
🤪 All 17 of his goals in that time have come from the penalty spot https://t.co/lQ8kKKUcwN
Jorginho had only one shot, which was off-target, and did not make a single key pass on the night. He also lost six duels and was dribbled past a whopping four times.