LONDON: Chelsea’s fearsome front three stretched Xabi Alonso’s perfect start at Stamford Bridge in a thrilling 4-3 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, while Leeds United fought back to hold Brentford 1-1.

Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored as Alonso’s reign kicked off with a 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday.

Pedro and Palmer were on target once more, while Rogers teed up Chelsea’s second goal, scored by Pedro Neto, as the Blues held off a rally from Brighton that threatened to snatch a point.

Emi Martinez was thrown straight into goal for his Chelsea debut just hours after sealing his move from Aston Villa and became the first player over 30 to start a league game for the Blues in more than two years in the process.

“I came here to challenge myself and try to win the Premier League,” Martinez told Sky Sports. “I know the talent we have up front. I try to bring that solidity in the back.”

But there was no place for his Argentina team-mate Enzo Fernandez, who could still leave for Manchester City before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Chelsea join City and Hull as the only three sides to take six points from their opening two games.

Meanwhile, Brentford were on course to also maintain their perfect start when Kevin Schade’s audacious flick opened the scoring away to Leeds.

But Dominic Calvert-Lewin turned in Lukas Nmecha’s driven cross to salvage a point and Leeds’s unbeaten start to the campaign.

Elsewhere, Sunderland got off the mark with a 1-0 victory over Fulham thanks to Wilson Isidor’s winner 15 minutes from time.

‘MORE MISERY FOR SPURS’

In Saturday’s late match, Newcastle United piled the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur coach Roberto De Zerbi with a 2-0 win.

Later, De Zerbi apologised for Tottenham’s dismal defeat but insisted he won’t panic after the club’s worst start to a season in 52 years.

Tottenham conceded twice in the second half to extend their miserable opening to the new Premier League campaign.

Anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead in the 62nd minute before Yoane Wissa killed off lacklustre Tottenham 10 minutes later as their frustrated fans streamed to the exits long before the final whistle.

It was another chastening result for De Zerbi, whose expensively assembled team suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at Brentford in the opening game of the season last weekend.

Tottenham have spent over 300 million pounds in the close-season as De Zerbi overhauled a squad that narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last term.

Bottom of the table Tottenham have lost their opening two matches of a league campaign without scoring for the third time in their history and the first since 1974-75. Despite Tottenham’s troubles, De Zerbi is confident they can bounce back.

“There is no panic. I know where we are going and what the plan is. I’m sorry for the fans for the result,” De Zerbi said. “We have to improve. We have to work hard on the pitch and find the connection between the players.”

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2026