A very entertaining game at the Bridge ends in a frustrating draw.
Chelsea opened the scoring within the opening 30 minutes, with Lukaku raising highest to connect to Mount's corner and put the ball past Sanchez.
Brighton pushed after conceding, creating a number of chances to equalise. But Edouard Mendy kept bailing the Blues out
Hudson-Odoi wasted a glorious opportunity to double the lead ten minutes after the interval as he couldn't play a simple ball to Mount after being released by Lukaku.
Mase scored shortly before full-time but his goal was ruled out as he was deemed to have fouled in the build-up.
Brighton kept knocking on the door and Danny Welbeck scored a stoppage-time equaliser.
The Blues' injury crisis continues as Reece James and Andreas Christensen were forced off the pitch with injuries.
🏁 And here comes the final whistle. A disappointing draw for Chels.
⚽90+1' And Welbeck scores an equaliser. Cucurella crosses, Welbeck heads it home. Simple. And, to be completely honest here, deserved.
⌚90' Mount scores... but it's ruled out as he is deemed to have fouled in the process.
⌚86' Lukaku's effort goes wide... Nicely set up by Kovacic here.
👋 Haha, mental by Jorginho.
Nizaar Kinsella: "Chelsea fans are wasting time after Jorginho told them to keep the ball. That's next level shithousing."
Chris: "Captain stuff. Diego Costa would’ve done this if he spoke English."
🟨83' Mount booked after an altercation with Bissouma.
⌚79' Mount's shot is blocked, could have been 2-0. Brilliant work by Lukaku to set him up.
⌚74' Chalobah heads at Sanchez but it's first Chelsea's shot since Lukaku's goal! Finally.
⌚74' Azpilicueta's Hazard-esque flick is cleared away for a corner by Cucurella.
⌚71' Terrible first touch by Alonso to waste a promising Chelsea attack.
🔄67' Kante on, CHO off. Chelsea made all their changes.
⌚63' A really bad miss by Lallana from inside the box. Chelsea's defence carved open again.
⌚60' First Mendy, then Rudiger deny Brighton by blocking the ball inside the six-yard box!
⌚59' 30 minutes since the goal and Chelsea still haven't had a shot.
⌚56' Maupay inches away from scoring a leveller.
⌚55' Lukaku intercepts in the middle of the pitch and launches a counter-attack, Hudson-Odoi and Mount go two against one, Cal drives forward, tries to pass the ball to Mase but hits a defender. Unbelievable, you can't miss this.
⌚53' MacAllister and Bissouma test Mendy from outside the box but the keeper does well to deny them.
⌚50' Pulisic falls in the box, VAR decides against awarding the Blues a penalty — and Chelsea fans feel hardly done by the ref:
London Is Blue Podcast: "(Probably should have been a penalty for Chelsea, but Dean gonna Dean.)"
Dávid Pásztor: "i mean Pulisic clearly gets kicked soooo"
George Benson: "Pulisic without a leg to stand on there…"
Dubois: "YOU BALD MENACE TO SOCIETY GET A HAIR TRANSPLANT THATS A PENALTY"
⌚47' Brighton nearly score through Moder... His effort goes over the bar, fortunately for Chelsea!
🔄46' Chalobah replaces Christensen at the break. We're back underway in what looks like a worrying game for Chelsea.
Lukaku's stats in the first half (Squawka):
◉ Most duels attempted (12)
◉ Most aerial duels won (5)
◉= Most touches in the opp. box (6)
✍James is injured, Christensen is just back from injury and was seen limping, Kovacic, Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi are not 100 per cent fit, Alonso can't get a rest, Jorginho is playing on painkillers and Mount is looking jaded—you can see why Tuchel is pushing for five subs.
🗣 Ex-Everton attacker Yannick Bolasie on Twitter: "Chelsea are a top team but when you add Lukaku…the team goes to a different level"
✍ So it's 1-0 at the break, Lukaku's header separates two sides.
Brighton started the game well. Chelsea ran into difficulties when they tried to enter the final third.
However, the Blues grew into the game. The first real chance happened in the 15th minute as Azpilicueta's effort from within the box hit the post; Rudiger's shot on the rebound was saved by the goalie.
Mount could have opened the scoring in the 24th minute but his fierce shot was saved. The resulting corner led to Lukaku's goal: the striker rose highest in the box and headed Mount's cross into the net.
Chelsea have dominated possession but Brighton look dangerous on the break.
The half-time whistle came timely for the Blues as the visitors kept pushing and it looked as if they were getting closer to an equaliser.
📊 Half-time ratings:
Good: Lukaku 8; Mount, Azpilcueta, Rudiger, Mendy 7
Decent: Christensen, Pulisic, Kovacic, Jorginho, James, Hudson-Odoi 6.5
Poor: Alonso 5
⌚45+2' MacAllister's shot from distance saved by Mendy but he's been given too much time to prepare that effort.
📊 Stat via Opta Joe: "Mason Mount has been directly involved in more Premier League goals [seven goals & five assists] than any other English player this season." Lukaku scored from Mase's corner today.
😂😂😂 Antonio Rudiger’s default settings (via Adam Newson on Twitter):
🟨39' Yellow card for Rudiger for a tackle on Lamptey. It all started with Kovacic cheaply giving away the ball in the middle of the park but Lamptey took on Alonso way too easily.
⌚36' Bissouma's long-range shot saved by Mendy. Shortly after, he denies Lallana from the edge of the area!
😭 James' injury overshadows Lukaku's opener.
MrGeorgeBenson: "I swear if that’s another ACL injury for Reece James. Buy Livramento or Lamptey back in January. Can’t see many others better than either of those two!"
Liam Twomey: "Great header from Lukaku but can’t help feeling that James injury is going to be more important. Hope it isn’t as bad as it looked."
⚽28' Lukaku opens the scoring with a powerful header!!! Brighton argue that the goal should not be given for Rom's challenge on Maupay, VAR looks at it and decides the goal should stand! 1-0!
🔄27' Reece James is injured. Marcos Alonso replaces him.
⌚24' Chelsea catch Brighton on the break, Mount's shot is saved.
📊 Stat of the day: Brighton have never scored at Stamford Bridge.
⌚19' Nice footwork by Pulisic to keep the ball in a congested area before feeding Hudson-Odoi in the box—Cal's effort is blocked out for a corner!
⌚16' Azpicueta hits the post after a corner, Rudiger's follow-up effort is saved! Chelsea really unlucky here!
⌚13' Camera zooms in on Tuchel making notes after just 12 minutes of play!
⌚11' Ex-Chelsea man Tariq Lamptey does well to receive the ball on the right side, run past Reece James and cut inside. His shot goes off target though, fortunately for Chelsea.
🗣 Dubois: "This Tariq Lamptey is impressive, we should consider signing him"
⌚5' Free-kick to Chelsea as Lamptey trips James in the Blues' box. Tariq tried to win a penalty for Brighton here.
🗣 Nizaar Kinsella: "Lamptey vs Reece James is fun. One reason why Lamptey left for Brighton was James's imposing presence on the right. Many believe James will spend a decade running up and down that flank for Chelsea."
⌚2' Rudiger starts a good attack, Lukaku heads the ball forward to Mount but Mase takes too long to feed Hudson-Odoi and loses the ball.
👉 It looks like Reece plays at left wing-back while Pulisic starts at right wing-back.
⌚1' Underway at the Bridge!
📊 A few stats before the kick-off:
👉 Romelu Lukaku starts his first league match since 16 October.
👉50th league start for Edouard Mendy.
👉Cesar Azpilicueta makes his 450th Chelsea appearance.
👉Azpilicueta makes his 300th league start for Chelsea.
✍ There are countless ways Chelsea can line up with this XI. It could be a flat back four, with Mount withdrawing to midfield to form a triangle with Jorgi and Kova.
But most likely Tuchel will keep his three-at-the-back shape, with either Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi at left wing-back.
🗞️ Team news
XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Pulisic; Mount, Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi
🗣 Hi everyone! This is Aleksei, I'll take you through Chelsea's final game of 2021. Liverpool sustained a shock defeat at Leicester yesterday so Chelsea will go three points clear of the Reds with a win today.
