Palmer, Nkunku boost Chelsea's Europe hopes
Chelsea maintained its European charge with a fourth successive win, overcoming Brighton 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.
Cole Palmer’s excellent header – his 22nd Premier League goal of a fine debut campaign at Stamford Bridge – put the Blues ahead after they had been denied an early penalty by a VAR review.
Both sides enjoyed plenty of chances with Pascal Gross going particularly close for Brighton, but Christopher Nkunku pounced to give Chelsea breathing room in the second half.
Chelsea captain Reece James was sent off for a petulant kick on Joao Pedro late on and Danny Welbeck halved the arrears in stoppage time, but the visitors held on to ensure a top-six finish remains in their hands going into the final day.
Chelsea thought it had an early chance to score from the spot as Facundo Buonanotte's challenge on Marc Cucurella was penalised, but the penalty award was overturned after a VAR review.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side continued to push for the opener as Malo Gusto's deflected effort was tipped over by Bart Verbruggen, and they eventually broke through in the 34th minute.
Cucurella burst down the left-hand side before floating a cross into the box, and Palmer arrived to send a looping header over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Nicolas Jackson had an excellent chance to double Chelsea’s lead deep into first-half stoppage time, but he failed to convert Palmer’s cross on the volley.
Substitute Nkunku then went close shortly after the break, but his driven effort from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.
The Seagulls should have equalised in the 57th minute as Tariq Lamptey’s dipping cross found Gross totally unmarked, but he somehow put his shot wide from inside the six-yard box.
Pochettino's men punished that miss seven minutes later, with Gusto cutting back for Nkunku to pick out the bottom corner with his first-time finish.
James was sent off after a VAR review as stoppage time loomed, having appeared to kick out at Pedro. The Seagulls piled on the pressure from there as Adingra struck the post on the volley before Welbeck poked home a Pedro delivery, but Chelsea ultimately held firm.
