Chelsea MUST tighten up their defence if they want to mount a title charge - Xabi Alonso cannot rely on outscoring the opposition every week, writes KIERAN GILL

Leading 3-0 after 32 minutes, the conversations were inevitable. About Chelsea as surprise title contenders. About Arsenal being worried. About everyone else in the Premier League inheriting a problem with the arrival of Xabi Alonso as a manager.

What Chelsea can offer in front of goal is frightening good. Whether you prefer ‘JPMorgan’ as a nickname or ‘CPR’, in Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers, they have an attacking trident worthy of title talk. It is as elite as any other in England, maybe even Europe, arguably up there with those boasted by Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Entertaining as it is to watch, however, Chelsea cannot rely on outscoring the opposition every week in order to challenge at the very top. Control tends to trump chaos when it comes to crowning champions, and what followed after Chelsea stormed into their 3-0 lead told us why we are right to have reservations about a sudden charge.

First, how they secured such a lead.

Chelsea’s opening goal came from a corner which was fumbled by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and tapped in by Romeo Lavia, but Alonso immediately turned to congratulate his new set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee for how he set it up.

Their second arrived after Jorrel Hato’s throw-in was flicked on by Joao Pedro for Rogers. Out of nowhere, Pedro Neto burst into the box to bury his team-mate’s pass with perfect timing.

Their third was the consequence of a clever turn and pass from Rogers in his own half as Hato flew forward down the left-hand side, his speed and the accuracy of his pass inside setting up Joao Pedro.

Chelsea bared their teeth against Brighton to score four goals - but they were leaky at the back

The Blues cannot simply rely on outscoring the opposition every match if they want to be serious title contenders

The Brazilian did not quite copy Emmanuel Adebayor, whose celebration in front of the Arsenal end after scoring for Manchester City in 2009 went down in Premier League folklore, but he made a point of positioning himself in front of the Brighton fans. They had been taunting their former player all afternoon. He was within his rights to respond.

The fast and furious nature of Chelsea’s third goal arguably summer up Alonso’s approach. They finished this match with only 25.6 per cent possession, having managed only 38.1 per cent at Fulham. From back to front in three passes, Chelsea were coasting, three goals to the good.

However, it is at the other end of the pitch where pressing questions have to be asked.

Chelsea have tried to help correct those problems at the back by bringing in Emiliano Martinez for £7.5million from Aston Villa, and he is an upgrade on Robert Sanchez.

It was Sanchez’s performance at Fulham in the Premier League’s opening weekend which forced Chelsea into this rethink after a summer spent insisting they were not in the market for goalkeepers. It was painfully obvious they would not stand a chance of rivalling Arsenal if they stood by their 28-year-old Spaniard. It was not only the two avoidable goals he conceded in that 3-2 victory. Sanchez even dribbled the ball out of play for a corner at one stage.

Chelsea rushed through the signing of Martinez. The goalkeeper, who turns 34 in the next week, had to be registered before Friday 12pm in order to be eligible to face Brighton. He was officially announced on Sunday morning, then started in the afternoon, with 21-year-old Mike Penders on the substitutes’ bench and Sanchez informed how he is up for sale.

Martinez performed well overall, particularly considering this was his first appearance since the World Cup final six weeks ago, which Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain. Yet Chelsea’s defence was unable to cope with the pressure applied by Brighton.

The visitors’ first goal was from a counter-attack which Neto should have killed early on when the ball was there to be won. Martinez initially stopped Charalampos Kostoulas, but Malick Yalcoule volleyed in the rebound, with a little luck involved as it smacked the woodwork on its way in.

Xabi Alonso is toasting two wins from two in the Premier League after also beating Fulham

Their front three of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, and Morgan Rogers is as good as any three in the Premier League

Brighton never stopped fighting but left themselves with too much ground to make up

Their second came from a corner which was worked short. Palmer did not spy the run behind him from Pascal Gross, whose cross took a wicked deflection off Joao Pedro to beat Martinez.

Suddenly, Chelsea’s 3-0 advantage had been reduced to a marginal 3-2 lead.

It was only because of their awesome attack that Alonso’s side were able to win. Palmer’s finish was fabulous, and with that, Alonso’s technical area could no longer hold him. The Blues boss jumped out of his box and into the air while pumping his fists toward the fans.

England manager Thomas Tuchel was sat next to Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti in the stands of Stamford Bridge. They may as well have had a conversation about their regretful summers, after leaving Palmer and Joao Pedro at home for the World Cup.

Palmer’s strike gave Chelsea enough daylight that Brighton’s stoppage-time header from Gross was merely a consolation, after Moises Caicedo needed to be substituted injured and with Enzo Fernandez yet again missing amid Manchester City’s circling. Midfield will be a particular area worth watching in the build-up to deadline day.

Stamford Bridge's Shed End unveiled a ‘Not too Xabi – Alonso is a Blue’ banner before kick-off. They are already captivated by their new manager.

However, if Alonso's Chelsea are to stay in this title conversation after two wins from two, they need to find a way to be as tight at the back as they are free-flowing up top.