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Frank Lampard believes Chelsea are already showing the benefits of their £ 200 million ($ 257 million) spending by starting their Premier League campaign with a 3-1 win at Brighton on Monday. Blues boss Lampard has spent a number of new signings and the first returns on his generous investment were promising. German striker Timo Werner, a £ 53 million recruit from RB Leipzig, won the Jorginho penalty to put Chelsea ahead. Kai Havertz, who made a £ 70m trade from Bayer Leverkusen, wasn’t that shocking, but Lampard will be sure better days will come from the young German striker.
“Timo’s speed to win the penalty showed that he is strong and he was a threat all night. He is very mobile and I liked his performance,” Lampard said.
“With Kai we also saw a lot. Getting these minutes will only be good and both will be great players for this club.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made another mistake when Leandro Trossard tied for Brighton.
But Reece James’ superb strike put Chelsea back in front before Kurt Zouma’s deflected effort sealed the points.
It was an encouraging result for Lampard, who has accepted that he is under pressure to land a title challenge after spending more than any other club so far in the summer transfer window.
“I think waiting for everything to go well on the first day is very difficult. But what they did was show a little bit of determination,” Lampard said.
I really liked the work ethic and discipline of the team. We have been together as a team for four days after the international break. Before that, we had a lot of quarantines and new signings.
“We could have lost points in this game last season. I’m not excited about that on the first day, but I thought he had a bit of determination and stamina.”
Chelsea finished 33 points behind champion Liverpool in fourth place last season before a disappointing defeat in the FA Cup final against Arsenal, but they are set to improve if Lampard can finalize his new signings.
Lampard’s other high-priced recruits, former Ajax player Hakim Ziyech and former Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell, were sidelined due to injuries, while Thiago Silva was unavailable when he returns to training following his free transfer from Paris Saint. -Germain.
Historians among Chelsea’s fan base will have noted that this is the third time they have started a Premier League campaign with a win on Monday night, and the Blues won the title on the previous occasions in 2014-15 and 2016. -17.
The only frustration for Lampard was Kepa’s howl.
The world’s most expensive goalkeeper was already under pressure to improve after a season plagued by mistakes and with Chelsea having spoken with Rennes about Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, his days as a first choice could be numbered.
Insisting that he has not canceled Kepa yet, Lampard said: “I am happy with Kepa, I saw confidence in him, he is here, he is our goalkeeper and I am happy with him.”
Classy werner
Werner was Chelsea’s center forward, while Havertz lined up on the right flank in the three-man attack.
It was Werner who showed all his class as Chelsea took the lead in the 23rd minute.
Brighton midfielder Steven Alzate gave up possession with a misguided pass and Jorginho fed Werner, who ran towards the goal and was brought down by Mat Ryan as he circled the Albion goalkeeper.
Jorginho stepped forward to take the penalty and the Chelsea captain sent Ryan backwards with his trademark jump before shooting.
Brighton tied in the 54th minute when a 20-yard shot from Trossard slipped under Kepa’s weak save attempt.
Promoted
Kepa’s mistake was not fatal to Chelsea, as James regained the lead just 100 seconds later with an impressive 30-yard blast.
Chelsea sealed the points in the 66th minute when Zouma caught James’ corner kick with a volley that sent Adam Webster hard to deflect Ryan.
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