'We need to adapt' says Alonso after Chelsea edge seven-goal thriller with Brighton

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso (centre right) gestures to the crowd after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

Chelsea 4 Brighton 3

CHELSEA boss Xabi Alonso insists his side won't just be a counter-attacking team this season after registering less than 26 per cent possession in this entertaining victory over Brighton at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro inside the opening half-an-hour put Chelsea in control before Brighton hit back either side of half-time through full debutant Malick Yalcouye and an unlucky own goal from former Seagull Pedro.

Cole Palmer calmed any nerves for the home fans with a brilliant fourth goal 15 minutes from time for the Blues before Pedro Gross added a late consolation with a looping header for the visitors.

Seven goals scored in two Premier League games and five conceded are a far cry from the successful Jose Mourinho side that conceded just 15 in a whole campaign in 2004/05.

But this front-footed attacking display full of pace and invention certainly has the tick of approval from Chelsea supporters who'd grown frustrated with the diet of slow, patient football adopted by Enzo Mareseca, Liam Rosenior and Graham Potter.

The manner in which Chelsea were happy to yield possession to the Seagulls before picking them off through the dynamic energy of wide men Neto, Morgan Rogers and Jarrel Hato delighted the home supporters who before the game unfurled a large flag in the Spaniard's honour.

That was not something experienced by any of his recent predecessors and after forking out over a billion pounds on players and failed managerial appointments in the last four years, have Chelsea finally stumbled on the right ingredients for a first title in a decade?

A trip to champions Arsenal next Sunday will be a much sterner test for Alonso's side and the former Liverpool man said his side are still evolving.

Alonso said: "You have to have context for sure, we have scored to go 3-0 up, so it is not important to say we have had 60 per cent possession or 20 per cent. I never talk about those things.

"But we need to adapt as in games there are different moments in games in some moments where we have done really well and some where we need to do better.

"Against different teams we will need to do different things."

New signing Emi Martinez, who became the eighth transaction between Chelsea and Aston Villa in the last four years, was thrown straight into the side after the paperwork for his £7.5million move was completed on Friday in time for selection.

The arrival of the 33-year-old Argentina World Cup winner almost certainly signals the end for ex-Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez, who wasn't even on the bench following another error-strewn display in the 3-2 win against Fulham last Monday.

Alonso said it was not a difficult decision to put Martinez straight into the side after just one training session with his new teammates - but the Argentine was unable to prevent Chelsea's run of no clean sheets extending to 18 - their longest in the top flight since 1961.

He said: "I spoke to Emi yesterday and we talked about the game and our team and he told me he was ready.

"Any keeper wants to have a clean sheet but I was happy with his impact considering he has only been in the building for 48 hours and now we will have the whole week to prepare for the next game.

"He has charisma and aura and will be a big player for us."

Speaking about Sanchez's and Enzo Fernandez's future Alonso said: "We will have a better idea about the make-up of our squad on Wednesday when the window closes.

"Whatever happens, we will have a good squad."

Brighton, who opened their season last week with a 4-0 thumping of Aston Villa but were without key players Jack Hinshelwood, Georginio Rutter and Kauro Mitoma.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurtzler said: "I don't like to blame injuries.

"I think the difference was certain moments of quality. If you spend so much money on players like Rogers, Palmer and Joao, Chelsea can rely on this quality in certain moments of the game.

"But we have to be more disciplined in these moments defensively."

Chelsea: Martinez, Wesley Fofana (James 68) , Lacroix, Colwill ( Chavarria 71) , Gusto, Palmer, Lavia (Caicedo 68, Barco 81), Hato, Pedro Neto (Acheampong 68), Rogers, Joao Pedro.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Wieffer (Costinha 80) , Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli, Gross, Kadioglu, Gomez, Yalcouye (Osman 84), De Cuyper, Kostoulas (David 80).

Referee:  Michael Oliver.