'These are big mistakes' - Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca fumes after Trevoh Chalobah red card sparks collapse against Brighton

Chelsea made a strong start to the game, taking the lead as Enzo Fernandez headed home from Reece James’ deflected cross. However the match soon turned on its head when Chalobah, 26, brought down Brighton’s in-form midfielder Gomez, who was clean through on goal. The challenge was reviewed by VAR before referee Simon Hooper subsequently sent off the Chelsea centre-back after 53 minutes.

Down to 10 men, Chalobah’s sending off proved decisive as Chelsea then succumbed to three goals from Brighton. Danny Welbeck scored twice while Maxim de Cuyper netted the other as Fabian Hurzeler’s men secured a famous victory in west London.

And after the match, Chelsea boss Maresca could not hide his frustration at Chalobah’s red card, saying: “For sure, you can't continue to make mistakes. They are game-changing mistakes. After that, we try to adjust with Josh [Acheampong] inside after being ill for a week. Our two central defenders were Josh and Jorrel [Hato], who do not have many games in the Premier League.”

When pressed further on his Chelsea players losing control, with defender Benoit Badiashile having also clashed with Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, Maresca added: “I didn't see that moment that you mentioned. I don't know if it was from Benoit or the Brighton player [Dunk]. I don't see these kind of things as a consequence for the goal. The message that we just said inside is clear: against any team in the Premier League, you cannot continue to give away presents. These are big mistakes and the game completely changed.”

Chalobah’s red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity means he will now miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Liverpool next Saturday. Maresca’s side were already short of defensive numbers, with Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo having both missed the Brighton match. Young defender Josh Acheampong, 19, could be in line to start against Liverpool as a result, with summer signing Jorrel Hato, also 19, poised to keep his place in the team.

The Brighton result maintained what has been a stuttering start to the season for Chelsea. The six-time champions have won just two of their six Premier League games in 2025-26, having also drawn two and lost two. Maresca's men also lost their Champions League opener against Bayern Munich earlier this month, though they did defeat League One outfit Lincoln City in the third round of the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Chelsea will look to pick up a morale-boosting victory when they entertain Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday. The match will see former boss Jose Mourinho make an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, having managed the club between 2004 and 2007 and again between 2013 and 2015. Mourinho was appointed Benfica manager on 18 September and has led the Portuguese giants to two wins and a draw in his first three games in charge.