Chelsea news: Are Palmer-inspired Blues a trophy threat?

Chelsea will feel that despite emerging victorious in a chaotic first half, they are starting to set a real benchmark for what they can achieve this season.

Before kick-off, Enzo Maresca said it was time for his team, the youngest in the Premier League, to show they were “men”.

Well, unlike on many occasions last season, they responded well from a 1-0 deficit to lead 4-2 after a chaotic 45 minutes thanks to Cole Palmer’s impressive four first-half goals.

Brighton managed to unsettle Chelsea’s defense and goalkeeper with their extremely high defensive line and intense pressing, but ultimately Maresca’s approach and players were superior.

Beating this Brighton side is no easy task as they were unbeaten before kick-off and had only conceded four goals.

Some may credit Maresca with transforming what looked like a chaotic club from the outside, in the midst of another busy summer of moves inside and out, but this is also a club that has been in trouble for two years the new ownership matures.

As Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali’s Clearlake Capital look to buy each other out, a new medical department has been set up and established, with senior directors now assigned to roles across the football department following a recall from Abramovich to Roman Abramovich.

Mauricio Pochettino has also done a good job of building a culture and preparing some of the younger players to compete this season.

Cole Palmer, who excelled last season, has continued his form, scoring six goals and four assists in his first six league games.

But there is also real progress in the development of Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto and others.

And of course, with over £1.5 billion spent in the last three transfer windows, Chelsea probably have the biggest squad of talent in world football.

Chelsea are now just one point behind leaders Manchester City, begging the question: how big a threat does this team pose to the elite clubs?