Chelsea have coasted to a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in Wednesday's Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud put Chelsea into the lead in the 38th minute, while goals from Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek ensured that the home side barely had to get out of second gear.
Chelsea now sit in fifth place - level on points with Arsenal - while Brighton remain five points clear of the relegation zone after a seventh defeat in 11 matches.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in West London courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues head into the game with the opportunity to move level on points with third-placed Arsenal, while any positive result for the visitors will boost their hopes of remaining in the top flight. The two teams are making their way out at Stamford Bridge, so let's see who features in each starting lineup...
CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, David Luiz, Palmieri; Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Hazard
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zappacosta, Rudiger, Kovacic, Barkley, Willian, Higuain
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION XI: Ryan, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Propper, Stephens, Bissouma; March, Andone, Jahanbakhsh
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Button, Bernardo, Burn, Kayal, Izquierdo, Knockaert, Murray
KICKOFF: Brighton get us underway!
Chelsea have settled straight into a rhythm, with the ball being played about with ease in the middle of the pitch. However, they are yet to pose any kind of threat to Ryan's goal.
Brighton manage to win a free kick on the halfway line, but the resulting set piece ends with the ball going harmlessly out for a goal kick.
The visiting supporters are suggesting that Stamford Bridge is like a library, and it is easy to see why. Very little has happened during the opening seven minutes, and the home fans have responded in kind.
Brighton are taking more of a direct approach compared to Chelsea's strategy, and Luiz has just been required to head the ball away to prevent Andone from meeting a cross.
SHOT! We get our first sighting of Hudson-Odoi and it nearly leads to a goal. The youngster cut inside onto his left foot, but his attempted curler was deflected wide of the far post.
Chelsea are beginning to up the tempo. Hazard and Palmieri link up down the left-hand side of the penalty area, but the latter's cross into the middle does not find a teammate.
The Blues put together a brilliantly-constructed move with at least a dozen passes being played down the right, but Kante goes to ground too easily when attempting to go past Bong in the penalty area.
Brighton have had more of the ball over the last couple of minutes, but mainly in their own half of the pitch. Both goalkeepers are yet to be tested.
SHOT! The visitors are growing into this contest. A long pass cross-field finds March at the back post, but the winger fires a volley into the side-netting from an acute angle. He was never going to beat Arrizabalaga from there.
Chelsea are playing some good stuff when they get on the ball, but they don't look like opening the scoring. We haven't seen much from Hazard.
As I say that, Hazard takes it upon himself to burst forward towards the penalty area with Brighton looking fearful of the Belgian, but the playmaker runs into trouble.
I wish that there was more to add, but this game has largely been about Chelsea probing away with little end product. Brighton don't look troubled, with Hughton happy for his side to sit deep and wait for the mistake.
Brighton have started to take a similar approach to Chelsea when they have the ball. I'm not sure why because the long balls into Andone were causing a few problems.
Chelsea spring into life with Hudson-Odoi crossing for Giroud from the right flank, but Dunk is able to make an excellent block from the Frenchman's volley.
SUBSTITUTION! Brighton are being forced into a change due to March sustaining a knock. Knockaert is the player who has been introduced.
CHANCE! Hudson-Odoi is looking lively on the right flank and the youngster is able to find Azpilicueta with another cross from that side of the pitch. The full-back can only head over the bar, however. Still, encouragement for the home side.
Bissouma beats each of Kante and Azpilicueta down the left and looks to provide Duffy with the chance to score from close range. However, Andone gets in front of his teammate, effectively taking it off his boot!
CHANCE! Chelsea should be ahead. A cross is only half-cleared into the path of Hazard who is waiting by the penalty spot, but the Belgian sends a left-footed volley high over the crossbar.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (OLIVIER GIROUD)
© Reuters
GOAL! Chelsea take the lead and guess who sets it up? Hudson-Odoi is having things his own way on the right and the academy graduate manages to get to the byline before crossing for Giroud, who meets the delivery at the near post to flick the ball into the roof of the net.
The home side hadn't necessarily looked like scoring, but they had upped things over the past few minutes. If things stay the same, Chelsea are moving level with third-placed Arsenal.
Hazard seems ready to finally make an impact in this match, with the playmaker being tripped on the edge of the area after a burst of pace.
Luiz took the resulting set piece, but the Brazilian's strike went into the wall. That was a disappointment.
There will be two minutes of added-on time. This first half is beginning to fizzle out.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
The half-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea lead thanks to Giroud's well-taken effort at the near post. It has not been the best of games, but the home side deserve their advantage. Brighton are yet to trouble Arrizabalaga.
Keen to see who made the biggest impact during the opening 45 minutes? Look no further than our 'Player Stats' page by clicking here.
A reminder of the two benches...
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zappacosta, Rudiger, Kovacic, Barkley, Willian, Higuain
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Button, Bernardo, Burn, Kayal, Izquierdo, Murray
KICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway.
Both teams are showing intent at the beginning of this second half. Chelsea snuffed out the danger at one end, before Hazard earned his side a corner at the other.
Sarri has previously said that Hudson-Odoi needs to work on the defensive side of his game, but the 18-year-old has just tracked back to make a really impressive tackle close to his head coach.
Brighton are really giving this a go now. I think it has taken Chelsea by surprise. However, they are still yet to test Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea are meeting fire with fire and quickly win a corner at the other end. Hudson-Odoi was the player who earned it, prompting a chant from the home supporters.
CHANCE! It really should be 2-0 to Chelsea. Jorginho picks out Hudson-Odoi - who had got in behind Bong - with a perfectly-flighted pass, but the youngster's header is directed too close to Ryan from seven yards out.
Sarri normally makes a substitution around this time. One is surely on the way, especially given their upcoming schedule. Brighton haven't offered anything over the past five or six minutes.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (EDEN HAZARD)
GOAL! Chelsea double their advantage and it is a superb goal. Jorginho and Loftus-Cheek link up to provide Hazard with a chance from the edge of the area, and the Belgian is able to curl a shot to Ryan's left from 20 yards out.
It's a long way back for Brighton. Hughton may already be looking towards Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City. Arrizabalaga has still not being troubled this evening.
GOAL! CHELSEA 3-0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK)
© Reuters
GOAL! It is definitely game over now. Loftus-Cheek has scored a stunning goal for the home side, with the midfielder finding the far top corner of Ryan's net from 20 yards out. It's similar to Hazard's goal. Just better.
Don't expect Chelsea to go through the motions during the final quarter of the game. They are in desperate need to improve their goal difference given how close things are between their top-four rivals.
We are still waiting for Sarri to make his first change, but the Italian is probably rethinking his alterations given that the three points have effectively been assured. Jorginho and Hazard may be the players to make way at some point.
This game has not been ideal preparation for Brighton ahead of the weekend. They have been outclassed by Chelsea, and it's not what you want ahead of a showdown with Man City.
SUBSTITUTION! Brighton make a second switch with Murray replacing Andone.
Chelsea win a free kick in a deep position, but nothing comes from the set piece with Giroud flicking the ball wide. Here comes Chelsea's first change.
SUBSTITUTION! Azpilicueta is the man to make way, with Zappacosta the player to replace the right-back.
SUBSTITUTION! Brighton make their third alteration as Jahanbakhsh is replaced by Bernardo.
Brighton are spending some time on the ball, but Chelsea are alert to any danger which is coming down the flanks. Chelsea will win this game, but they want a clean sheet too.
There are 'oles' coming from the travelling support. That tells you all that you need to know about how they view the closing stages.
There are 'oles' coming from the travelling support. That tells you all that you need to know about how they view the closing stages.
SHOT! Brighton finally force Azpilicueta into a save. A corner is only half-cleared to Bernardo, but the defender's half-volley is directed too close to the Chelsea goalkeeper.
SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea's second substitution sees Kovacic introduced for Loftus-Cheek, who gets a standing ovation.
SUBSTITUTION! Sarri follows that by using Willian to replace Hazard.
Chelsea want a fourth, but Brighton have retreated in order to make it difficult for their hosts. Just the four minutes to go now.
It is Brighton's turn to have the ball, but they are doing little with it. The referee will not add much injury time if he has any sense. This game is petering out.
There will be three minutes of added-on time. It could have been worse, I guess!
Hudson-Odoi is making a considerable effort to impress Sarri. He has just chased back again to make another tackle. Chelsea must do everything to keep him in the summer. The 18-year-old has made a significant impact tonight.
CHANCE! Brighton almost find a consolation goal in the last seconds of the contest. Dunk's long ball over the top finds Knockaert, but the substitute can only direct a shot wide of the post from inside the area.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have coasted to a 3-0 win against Brighton. Giroud, Hazard and Loftus-Cheek have all gotten on the scoresheet, but this was a confident team performance from Sarri's men.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening, and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
