LONDON (AP) — Well before halftime, Brighton supporters were already taunting the manager they once adored with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
Graham Potter may not have to worry about being fired just yet, but his return to Brighton created the closest thing to a crisis he has experienced in his fledgling Chelsea reign.
Brighton beat Chelsea 4-1 in the English Premier League on Saturday to hand Potter his first loss since leaving the south-coast club to take over the Blues in September. After a strong start under Potter, Chelsea has dropped points in three straight league games following draws against Brentford and Manchester United.
And the worst part for Chelsea was that the scoreline wasn’t at all misleading.
Brighton was 2-0 up after 14 minutes and added the third before halftime, having looked more confident and ambitious than the visitors who saw forward Christian Pulisic miss their best chance when he somehow shot wide with the goal gaping after a rebound. Kai Havertz pulled one back for Chelsea early in the second half but Pascal Gross finished off the scoring in injury time for the hosts.
“The atmosphere was really intense here, and we didn’t necessarily match that level of intensity from the start,” Potter said. “Clearly, Brighton were better at what they did, so we have to take that as a lesson – even though it’s a painful one for us.”
Brighton has taken just two points from a possible 15 since Potter’s departure but earned a first win under new coach Roberto De Zerbi — and the club’s first over Chelsea since 1933.
The loss means Chelsea dropped eight points behind Manchester City, which took the overnight lead in the standings by beating Leicester 1-0 away thanks to an inch-perfect free kick from Kevin De Bruyne in the second half.
Arsenal can reclaim top spot on Sunday by beating last-placed Nottingham Forest at home.
City was without star striker Erling Haaland for the first time because of an ankle problem but De Bruyne made sure that didn’t matter when he curled in a set-piece from 25 yards that dipped under the crossbar and in via the post in the 49th minute.
Tottenham came from two goals down in the second half to beat Bournemouth 3-2 and halt a run of two straight league losses, while resurgent Newcastle — which beat Spurs in the previous round — has won five of its last six after routing Aston Villa 4-0 at home.
Tottenham’s comeback meant it stayed in third place, two points ahead of fourth-placed Newcastle.
After Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez went off with a concussion in the first half — having initially tried to play on despite looking groggy following a collision — Callum Wilson scored two for Newcastle and Joelinton and Miguel Almiron added one each.
Crystal Palace beat Southampton 1-0 at home for a third straight win while Brentford settled for 1-1 against Wolverhampton. Wolves striker Diego Costa was sent off for a headbutt deep into injury time.
Fulham hosted Everton late, and Liverpool welcomed struggling Leeds to Anfield in an evening kickoff.
SPURS COMPLETE COMEBACK
Antonio Conte was furious after his team was denied a late winner by VAR in the Champions League in midweek, but there was no stopping the Tottenham celebrations this time.
Substitute Rodrigo Bentancur scored deep in stoppage time to complete the comeback for Spurs after Kieffer Moore’s double put Bournemouth into a two-goal lead. Ryan Sessegnon started the comeback in the 57th minute and Ben Davies leveled following a corner.
“It was vital to win this game,” Conte said. “This type of win for us can help us to have more confidence and to trust much more in ourselves.”
DE BRUYNE SHINES
City manager Pep Guardiola publicly challenged De Bruyne recently to raise his level even higher for the club. The quality of the free kick the Belgium playmaker produced to beat Leicester was certainly top class.
“He’s back,” Guardiola said of De Bruyne. “He was not playing good in the last games. (Today he was) amazing. He knows it.”
Guardiola said Haaland will almost certainly be rested for the Champions League game against Sevilla but could be back for next weekend’s match against Fulham.
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