CHELSEA and Brighton played out a drab goalless draw after the Blues sensationally quit the European Super League in the build-up.
- Final score: Chelsea 0-0 Brighton
Follow all the latest reaction with our live blog below…
Chelsea vs Brighton SPECIAL OFFER: Get £20 risk free bet
GOODBYE
It’s over.
As another dramatic day comes to an end so too does the nightmare that football fans have been staring down for the past 48 hours.
The proposed European Super League due to feature six of England’s richest clubs is poised for the scrapheap following the withdrawal of its Premier League components.
The news had broken across a night that started with fierce protests from Chelsea supporters outside of Stamford Bridge ahead of their home game with Brighton.
With the team unable to make it through the crowds, the Chelsea board took note and began the process of pulling out. It set the dominos tumbling, and soon others followed suit.
To a backdrop of fan power outside the ground, Chelsea and Brighton then played out a dreary goalless draw inside an empty stadium. While not the most important event of the day, it could be a crucial point for both come the end of the season in their respective battles for Champions League football and Premier League survival.
Normally, I’d leave you with the match report but tonight it seems more fitting to feature the front page success story that is all six Premier League giants pulling out of European Super League.
Goodnight.
SUPER LEAGUE SUSPENDED
Following the withdrawal of all six English clubs, it is being reported that the Super League project is set to be formally suspended this evening.
Good, and take your rubbish logo with you.
ENGLISH SIDES WITHDRAW
The European Super League project is over.
We did it.
Football won. Football fans won.
LALLANA RELIEVED
Brighton’s Adam Lallana revealed that the news of clubs withdrawing from the Super League earlier this evening helped to lift a sick feeling from his stomach. The midfielder paid tribute to his side’s performance, and added that these kind of surprise results are what the game is about.
That is what football is about – the underdogs. We were outstanding and should have taken three points. Together we are stronger. It is great to see everyone coming together as one. We want games like this to have meaning.
Adam Lallana
FAN POWER
Few impressed in Chelsea blue during the match this evening, but their fans certainly made their mark prior to kick-off.
Their protests in opposition to their club’s decision to join a European Super League, be it directly or indirectly, led to the news that Chelsea are formally withdrawing from the project.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHARGE
It’s widely believed that Chelsea have formally begun procedures to withdraw from the Super League, and an official statement is expected from the club tomorrow.
And so it’s back to competitive football, and the race for a place in the top four to seal Champions League football. A point this evening has moved the Blues above West Ham and into fourth, but it’s getting very tight at the top.
Only three points separate Leicester in third and Liverpool in sixth, while a win for Everton in their game in hand will have them back in the mix. Even Tottenham, currently five points off the pace are not out of the running now they are free of Jose Mourinho’s shackles.
SANCHEZ’S SAFE HANDS
Another clean sheet for Robert Sanchez means that the Brighton goalkeeper has now kept nine in his first 21 Premier League appearances.
His 43% clean sheet ratio is the best of any other Brighton goalkeeper to have played in the competition, and almost double that of Mat Ryan (22%) and David Button (25%).
FULL TIME STATS
Chelsea seven shots against Brighton were their lowest they have managed in a Premier League game since Thomas Tuchel took charge.
FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
A dreary game, but an excellent point for Brighton in their battle to avoid the drop.
The draw takes Brighton seven points clear of Fulham while still holding a game in hand over the 18th-placed Cottagers. The Seagulls travel to Sheffield United at the weekend.
FT: CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
The football took a back seat to developments off the pitch this evening which is just as well because this game was a washout. The best chances fell to the visitors late on as a result of Chelsea carelessness, but Adam Lallana was off target while Danny Welbeck clattered the post. A fine defensive performance from Brighton’s Ben White was marred in stoppage time as he picked up a second yellow card for fouling Callum Hudson-Odoi.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
90+3. From the subsequent free-kick, Hudson-Odoi’s cross is headed tamely at Sanchez.
That will be that.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
90+2. In the second minute of three added on, Brighton are reduced to ten men.
Chelsea finally show some pace on the counter-attack, and when Callum Hudson-Odoi attempted to skip back inside Ben White, the defender brought him crashing to the ground.
He had just been named as Sky Sports’ Man of the Match.
BEN WHITE BRINGS DOWN CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI!
IT’S A SECOND YELLOW CARD FOR THE DEFENDER!CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
90. Thinking he has a corner coming his way, Werner allows the ball to roll out of play only to react in disbelief when a goalkick is awarded.
It kind of sums up Chelsea’s collective performance tonight.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
87. Brighton opt to to remove a forward for the final moments. Danny Welbeck goes off, and Jakub Moder, a young defensive midfielder from Poland, is on in his place.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
85. There’s always an inevitability when Giroud comes on in a game like this that he is going to be the player to end the resolve of a determined team from lower down the table.
The Frenchman may have just passed up his chance though as he pokes Hudson-Odoi’s cross wide of the near post.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
84. A blatant bodycheck denies Jorginho the chance to pick up possession in the Brighton half.
There’s no card, nor even a free-kick, however, as the culprit was referee Stuart Atwell.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
82. A reminder that Brighton have never scored a goal away at Chelsea before in six previous attempts.
They’ve come so close in the last few minutes, and really believe they can win this late on.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
80. Welbeck thumps the post!
Chelsea once again show themselves willing to be architects of their own downfall as they once more give up possession in a dangerous area.
Gross is involved, and then Welbeck takes over with a wonderful effort from outside the area that beats Kepa before rebounding back off the woodwork.
The visitors keep the attack alive, and seconds later Lallana follows up with a shot that is well saved by the Chelsea keeper.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
78. Giroud is on for Ziyech…
…and Brighton are almost in front!
Zouma is caught in possession by Maupay as he attempts to dribble his way out in defence, and it sparks a three-on-one break.
Lallana has options to either side, but goes for goal himself with a curler just wide of the far post.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
76. There is some high-pitched screaming following a Bissouma challenge on Christensen. Azpilicueta would be the usual suspect but he’s not playing.
Anyway, the suggest is that the Brighton man was dangerous and reckless in his tackle, but replays show it was nothing more than your common or garden late challenge.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
74. Graham Potter introduces Brighton’s leading scorer to proceedings. Neal Maupay comes on for Alexis Mac Allister.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
73. White goes into the book for a foul on Mount. How unbecoming of two future England teammates.
CHELSEA 0-0 BRIGHTON
72. Ziyech gives away possession to Burn in his own half, and play is once again moved on to Bissouma to shoot.
This one is higher but without the accuracy of his previous attempt, and the ball nestles itself in an empty Shed End.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
