When Chelsea's players shifted their focus to defense, for Brighton, it was essentially the end of the road.
Given Brighton's current form, breaking through Chelsea's defensive wall seemed like an impossible task.
During these final moments of the game, although every Brighton player remained active and gave their best effort, it was clear that trying to win against Chelsea with sheer determination alone was unrealistic.
The result was inevitable.
Chelsea secured a 3-1 victory by the end of the match.
Another commanding and relatively effortless victory.
They won yet another crucial battle on their home turf.
Chelsea now seemed unstoppable in the Premier League, with hardly any team able to match their dominance.
After this game concluded, the winter transfer window for Europe's top five leagues officially opened.
As Chelsea's head coach, Antonio Conte was already very satisfied with the current lineup. Therefore, he decided not to make any additions to the squad.
Time moved forward, and soon, the last weekend of December arrived.
Chelsea faced another challenge at home—this time against Stoke City.
Stoke City was yet another tough opponent.
This season, Stoke City was ranked 10th in the Premier League standings. Moreover, they had won all three of their previous matches, showing that they were in good form.
At the pre-match press conference, Stoke City's head coach, Mark Hughes, acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming game.
"We all know very well that Chelsea are currently at the top of the Premier League," Coach Hughes stated. "They have been in excellent form in recent matches. Winning at Stamford Bridge is no easy task.
"But no matter what, I believe every Stoke City player will give it their all and fight for honor."
"We are ready for a decisive battle with Chelsea!"
Coach Hughes' words were bold and filled with determination.
For Stoke City, while they were no longer in danger of relegation, taking the next step or competing for a spot in European competitions would still be a significant challenge.
In their remaining key matches, Stoke City players were naturally motivated to give their best and aim for victory.
The next day.
Stamford Bridge Stadium buzzed with energy.
Tens of thousands of Chelsea fans filled the stands early, waving scarves and cheering enthusiastically as they awaited the start of the match.
Inside the Qingqiu.com live broadcast room, commentator Zhan Jun began introducing the starting lineups for both teams.
"Welcome to the 21st round of the Premier League for the 2017-2018 season! Now, let's take a look at the starting lineups for today's match between Chelsea and Stoke City."
"Starting with Chelsea, the 11 players on the pitch are as follows:
"Goalkeeper: Courtois;
"Three center-backs: Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, and Rudiger;
"Four midfielders: Moses, Drinkwater, Kante, and Marcos Alonso;
"Three forwards: Willian, Su Luo, and Pedro."
"It's worth noting that players like Lukaku, Fabregas, and Hazard are not included in the starting lineup!"
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