The game is petering out now as Chelsea stroke it around. Even when Brighton win the ball back they aren't breaking with any real pace or intent.
86'
Chelsea play some neat stuff through midfield and Zappacosta then takes advantage of a distracted Brighton defence – who are appealing for handball – to cross towards Giroud. It’s just about nicked away from him, however, and Brighton clear their lines.
84'
Willian enters the game and replaces E. Hazard.
That miss proves to be his last action of the game, as Hazard makes way for Willian on the wing.
82'
M. Kovačić enters the game and replaces R. Loftus-Cheek.
Loftus-Cheek, having scored for the second successive game, makes way now for on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Kovacic.
80'
SAVE! A relatively straightforward shot to deal with from Bernardo takes a deflection on its way through to Kepa, but the Spaniard manages to read the flight of the ball and hold on.
78'
Bernardo and Knockaert are now doubling up on the Brighton left. It looks like they may be attempting to target Chelsea substitute Zappacosta down this side.
76'
Kepa comes for a left-wing delivery and flaps at it through the crowded box, getting a weak hand to the ball. Thankfully for him, it doesn't fall to a Brighton player and he gets away with it.
75'
Bernardo enters the game and replaces A. Jahanbakhsh.
Full-back Bernardo replaces winger Jahanbakhsh in Hughton’s final change. Perhaps he is accepting that the game is lost and simply wants to stem the tide now.
Minute
Description
73'
D. Zappacosta enters the game and replaces César Azpilicueta.
Azpilicueta now makes way for Zappacosta as Sarri affords the Spaniard a rest. He hands the captain’s armband to David Luiz.
70'
G. Murray enters the game and replaces F. Andone.
Murray now replaces Andone up front as Hughton looks for a response from his side.
68'
Bissouma concedes a free-kick for a foul on Hudson-Odoi and goes down. He's seen to by the medical team and there's a brief delay in proceedings. It looks like he will be okay to continue.
66'
MISS! Loftus-Cheek looks to double his tally for the night as he picks up the same position and goes for a low drive into the near corner, but drags it well wide this time.
63'
R. Loftus-Cheek has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by E. Hazard.
Hazard further adds to his remarkable tally of goals and assists against Brighton, as well as his contribution at Stamford Bridge.
GOAL! Brighton's resistance is broken and now the floodgates have opened! Hazard turns provider for Loftus-Cheek as the pair swap roles in an almost identical move, with the Englishman firing into the top-right corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 to the Blues! Lovely strike!
60'
E. Hazard has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by R. Loftus-Cheek.
Loftus-Cheek's ball into Hazard was simple enough as they penned Brighton in, and the Belgian still had the defence to beat before finding the net.
GOAL!! Chelsea go 2-0 up! Hazard produces a moment of magic and Brighton are undone! He drifts in from the left and picks up the ball in a central area just outside the box. He feints to shoot, sending Dunk sliding away, before curling a lovely strike into the far corner! Chelsea really need to keep him this summer.
58'
Emerson tries too much in trying to beat Bruno and the veteran right-back sees through the stepovers and wins the ball with an uncompromising challenge. The Brazilian, in attempting to atone for his error, then fouls the Brighton captain.
55'
Hudson-Odoi produces a neat touch to set Azpilicueta up for a cross on the right, but it's blocked behind for a corner. The teenager then takes the set-piece, but his delivery is poor. He's seeing a lot of the ball tonight.
53'
Hazard has drifted across to the right a couple of times in this half already. Perhaps they are looking to take advantage of Knockaert’s poor defensive cover on that side by doubling up on him.
51'
Hudson-Odoi is found in space on the right and curls in a cross on his weaker left foot, but it sails behind for a goal-kick.
49'
SAVE! The corner isn’t cleared out of the box and David Luiz wriggles free of his marker on the right before thumping a low ball towards the near post, but Ryan hangs on well.
48'
Bissouma shows quick feet again as he skips away from a challenge and gets down the left to cross, but it's cleared away. Hazard also has a go at the defence at the other end and earns his side a corner.
46'
We're back underway for the second half!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
45'
CHANCE! Hazard skips away down the left and dinks a cross into the six-yard box. Nobody can get to it and it finds the onrushing Hudson-Odoi on the right of the area, but as he tries to strike it first-time, he completely misses the ball and ends up on the deck! Probably not what he was intending.
43'
BLOCK! The centre-back's effort clips off the top of the wall and flies behind for a corner. The delivery is dealt with comfortably and Chelsea recycle possession.
41'
Hazard is brought down by Stephens in a dangerous area. David Luiz stands over the free-kick menacingly.
38'
O. Giroud has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by C. Hudson-Odoi.
Hudson-Odoi rewards his manager's faith on his first Premier League start, and he's had Knockaert's number ever since the Frenchman replaced March.
GOAL!! It’s 1-0 to Chelsea! Knockaert is again beaten too easily by Hudson-Odoi and the teenager fizzes in a low cross to the near post, where Giroud arrives to squeeze the ball in from very close range! Chelsea lead!
33'
MISS! Hudson-Odoi takes substitute Knockaert on and beats him down the flank before standing a cross up to the near post from the byline. Azpilicueta rises to meet it but heads wastefully over the top of the bar. Poor effort from the Spaniard.
31'
A. Knockaert enters the game and replaces S. March.
That change is now made, with Knockaert taking the unfortunate March's place out wide.
27'
MISS! Azpilicueta lofts in a cross from the right and Giroud rises highest to meet it, but he's always stretching for it and can only skew his header wide of the target.
26'
Chelsea are still probing, but Brighton have now retreated into a deep, compact defensive shape and the Blues aren’t moving the ball quick enough to open up gaps.
24'
Hazard goes on one of his trademark slaloming runs down the left, but is eased off the ball as he reaches the byline and it eventually goes out for a goal-kick.
23'
Brighton have tried to have a bit more of a go at Chelsea after simply soaking up pressure in the first quarter of an hour, but have yet to test Kepa.
21'
Chelsea still dominating the ball, but the game is lacking a bit of energy at the moment. A little bit pedestrian from the hosts so far.
17'
BLOCK! Jorginho lofts a first-time ball into Giroud in the box from deep and the striker - with his back to goal - controls on his chest and tries to lash a volley in on the swivel, but it’s blocked well!
13'
Hazard slips Emerson in on the overlap and the left-back swings in an enticing cross, but nobody gambles on it at the back post and Brighton escape.
12'
MISS! Giroud meets Hazard’s corner from the left inside the six-yard box but can only send it high over the bar under pressure.
9'
Andone's movement has been good in the opening stages, but he's flagged offside as he chases down a long ball into the corner with Azpilicueta.
7'
Hudson-Odoi receives a short corner square on the byline from Hazard and returns it immediately, but the Belgian's low delivery is easily cleared behind. The second corner is defended well and Brighton get out.
5'
Andone has been drifting out to the Brighton right and this time earns a foul after being pulled down by David Luiz. The free-kick comes to nothing, however.
3'
Chelsea dominating the ball as expected early on. David Luiz tries a spectacular ball over the top for the run of Kante but it's a little too long and Ryan collects.
1'
We're off at Stamford Bridge!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.
The line-ups have been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, David Luiz, Emerson; N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard
Chelsea substitutes: Willy Caballero, Mateo Kovacic, Willian, Gonzalo Higuain, Antonio Rudiger, Davide Zappacosta, Ross Barkley
Brighton XI (4-5-1): Mat Ryan; Bruno, Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Gaetan Bong; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Davy Propper, Dale Stephens, Yves Bissouma, Solly March; Florin Andone
Brighton substitutes: David Button, Anthony Knockaert, Jose Izquierdo, Glenn Murray, Dan Burn, Bernardo, Beram Kayal
Brighton looked to be containing Chelsea fairly well with their deep, compact shape, and a glaring Hazard miss aside, there have not been too many clear-cut chances for the hosts. Having gone behind, however, they will surely have to alter their game-plan at some point and be more aggressive.
Thank you for joining our coverage, we hope you enjoyed the game. Until next time, goodbye!
Chelsea host West Ham next, while Brighton have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to against Manchester City, before hosting Bournemouth in Premier League action.
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