Chelsea 1-1 Brighton: Player ratings as late Welbeck header sees points shared

A late header from Danny Welbeck saw Brighton snatch a late point against Chelsea on Wednesday, dealing the Blues a huge blow in the title race.

Both sides had their chances early on. Romelu Lukaku was a real threat in the opening stages, while Tariq Lamptey was lively down the visitors' right and should have done better with a scuffed chance ten minutes in.

Robert Sanchez nearly gifted Chelsea a lead soon after, failing to claim a corner and watching on as Cesar Azpilicueta's scrappy effort came back off the post, but it was a sign of things to come as another corner gave Thomas Tuchel's men a goal before the half-hour mark.

Romelu Lukaku rose highest to head past Sanchez, and once VAR was satisfied that the Belgian had not fouled Neal Maupay, the goal was given.

Brighton responded well and attacked Chelsea with pace. Alexis Mac Allister and Adam Lallana both saw good chances blocked as the Blues defended their lead valiantly heading into the interval.

Graham Potter's men began the second half on top, with Yves Bissouma's thunderous drive from range drawing a nice save from Edouard Mendy, and the Seagulls enjoyed plenty of half-chances to get back into the game. Chelsea were left hanging on at times, so on came N'Golo Kante.

Kante's introduction calmed things down slightly and Chelsea grew back into the game, but Brighton continued to threaten down the other end and set up a nervy final few minutes.

Lukaku saw a close-range shot excellently deflected by the superb Joel Veltman, but it was Brighton who had the last laugh as Danny Welbeck rose highest to head home an equaliser in stoppage time to earn a deserved point for the Seagulls.

Chelsea player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Edouard Mendy (GK) - 7/10 - Did well on his 50th Premier League appearances. Nothing too tricky but dealt with everything well.

Cesar Azpilicueta (CB) - 5/10 - Looked shaky. Not the best way to celebrate your 450th appearance for the club.

Andreas Christensen (CB) - 6/10 - Picked up a knock early on but managed to keep Brighton's forwards at bay before hobbling off at the break.

Antonio Rudiger (CB) - 8/10 - Everywhere at the back. Showed pace, strength and positioning to thwart Brighton time and time again.

2. Midfielders

Christian Pulisic (RM) - 5/10 - Seemed wasted at wing-back, but didn't always make the right choice going forwards. Held his own at the back.

Mateo Kovacic (CM) - 5/10 - A strange one. Caught in possession a number of times and invited real pressure, but pulled off some glorious passes to keep Chelsea going forward. All balances out.

Jorginho (CM) - 5/10 - Saw his defensive weaknesses exposed a little too often and didn't do well enough on the ball.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (AM) - 4/10 - Really underwhelming in the final third and fluffed a perfect two-on-one chance early in the second half.

Mason Mount (AM) - 5/10 - Pressed well but didn't do nearly enough on the ball.

Reece James (LM) - 5/10 - Uncomfortable on the left before being forced off injured after 15 minutes.

3. Forward

Romelu Lukaku (ST) - 7/10 - Dominant in attack and took his goal with real class. Isolated at times but continuously asked questions of Brighton's back line.

4. Substitutes

Marcos Alonso (LM) - 4/10 - Really sloppy in possession and forgot how to control a ball.

Trevoh Chalobah (CB) - 8/10 - Threw himself at everything in the second half. A really impressive showing.

N'Golo Kante (CM) - 6/10 - Calmed everything down immediately.

Brighton player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Robert Sanchez (GK) - 5/10 - Unconvincing in the air and fortunate not to give away a goal early on.

Joel Veltman (CB) - 8/10 - Impressed at the back with an outstanding late block on Lukaku and played some gorgeous passes forwards. Top performance.

Dan Burn (CB) - 6/10 - Didn't always enjoy his battle with Lukaku but did reasonably well, all things considered.

Marc Cucurella (CB) - 7/10 - Really nice going forward and his pace was too much for Hudson-Odoi. Kept the Chelsea man quiet.

6. Midfielders

Tariq Lamptey (RM) - 6/10 - Some brilliant runs from deep before being withdrawn for the last 25 minutes.

Yves Bissouma (CM) - 8/10 - Ran the show for Brighton. A dominant force in midfield and did excellently to carry the ball forward.

Adam Lallana (CM) - 6/10 - Did really well in midfield but lost all ability when he got into the box. Some woeful finishing.

Jakub Moder (AM) - 6/10 - Similar to Lallana. Some nice build-up play but a little wasteful in front of goal.

Alexis Mac Allister (AM) - 8/10 - Caused all sorts of problems for Chelsea's back line and would have scored had it not been for some excellent defending from Rudiger.

Solly March (LM) - 6/10 - Nice and decent. Did his job well at both ends of the field. The most 6/10 performance you'll ever see.

7. Forward

Neal Maupay (ST) - 5/10 - Poor defending for Lukaku's opener and spurned some decent chances to equalise.

8. Substitutes

Enock Mwepu (CM) - 6/10 - A physical presence in midfield but his introduction in Lamptey's place seemed to slow the game down.

Danny Welbeck (AM) - 7/10 - A really impressive header to save the day.

Steven Alzate (CM) - N/A