Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday has served as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football. When they met the Seagulls at home back in September, Chelsea were flying high, delivering a dominant 4-2 victory that had many speculating on a strong season. However, the Blues’ latest loss means they’ve now gone five consecutive away games without a win and have been eliminated from the FA Cup, leaving them with the slim hope of salvaging their season through the Europa Conference League and securing a top-four or five finish in the Premier League.

The defeat at the Amex Stadium has raised several alarm bells for manager Enzo Maresca, who now faces the challenge of ensuring his team doesn’t undo all the good work done earlier in the season. While Chelsea’s first half of the campaign showed promise, there are growing concerns that Maresca’s side is losing their momentum, and if these issues aren’t addressed soon, the remainder of the season could spiral out of control.

Sancho’s Struggles

One of the most frustrating moments for Maresca during the Brighton game was the performance of summer signing Jadon Sancho. As the sixth-most expensive English player of all-time, expectations for Sancho are high, but his recent performances have failed to live up to his potential. Against Brighton, Sancho was up against Joel Veltman, who was already on a yellow card, and the opportunity to exploit Veltman’s vulnerability was clear. Instead of being direct and testing his opponent, Sancho often slowed the play down and passed backwards, missing a chance to get him sent off.

Although the team’s lack of a target man also contributed to the frustration, it was disappointing to see Sancho, with his talent, not make the most of the situation. If he is to remain Chelsea’s first-choice left-winger, Maresca will need to have a word with him. The time has come for Sancho to show his full potential, especially with the Blues in need of all the firepower they can muster during this challenging period.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s Missed Opportunity

Another player who failed to make an impact was Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who was substituted in the immediate aftermath of Brighton’s first goal. The former Leicester City man has had limited minutes this season, but given his development in the Championship, more was expected of him. Chelsea are at a critical juncture of the season, and with key players losing form, Dewsbury-Hall’s failure to capitalize on his chances feels like a missed opportunity. His inability to impress Maresca is concerning, and with Chelsea’s midfield in need of rejuvenation, Dewsbury-Hall must seize his next opportunity to prove he deserves a place in the first team.

Possession Without Penetration

A recurring issue for Chelsea this season has been their inability to turn possession into meaningful chances. The Blues have dominated the ball in many matches, but the final product has often been lacking. Against Brighton, Chelsea had 57 percent of possession but only managed seven shots, with just one on target all night. The lack of clinical finishing has been a significant problem, with Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke being the only players to score with any regularity. Enzo Fernandez, despite his creativity, has only scored three goals, highlighting the need for more attacking contributions from other key players.

The struggle to score goals has become even more apparent with Jackson’s recent dip in form. Chelsea’s reliance on him to provide goals has been clear, but with his goal tally drying up, the team has found it difficult to break down opponents. With the January transfer window closed, Maresca must find a way to get the best out of Jackson or find an alternative solution to bolster the team’s attacking options. As for Nkunku, who has only scored twice this season, Chelsea needs more from him if they are to remain competitive.

In the defeat to Brighton, Chelsea’s lack of cutting edge was evident, and unless Maresca can find a way to solve the team’s attacking and creative issues, the remainder of the season looks set to be another disappointing one for the Blues. The pressure is now on the manager to turn things around quickly, or risk the season slipping away entirely.