Chelsea Slip Down Further

Striker Danny Welbeck scored a last-minute equalizer as Brighton & Hove Albion held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Belgian Striker Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring on 28 minutes with a powerful header from a corner, but Welbeck came off the bench late on and scored to rescue a point for manager Graham Potter’s side.

The draw pushed Chelsea into second place in the Premier League table on 42 points, one more than Liverpool who have a game in hand and eight points behind leaders Manchester City. Chelsea are set to play both Liverpool and Man City in the first two weeks of January. Brighton sit in 10th place on 24 points.

Lukaku, who scored for the first time in September in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday, nodded his side into the initial lead when the 28-year-old connected with midfielder Mason Mount’s corner at the near post, powerfully sending it past opposing goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) conducted a lengthy review into whether Lukaku’s trailing arm fouled Brighton striker Neal Maupay as he moved toward the ball, but the goal was awarded.

The home side claimed for a penalty shortly after half-time when winger Christian Pulisic fumbled over the ball but not before being taken down in the box, although the claims were dismissed after a VAR review.