Cole Palmer has become the first player to score four goals before half-time in a single Premier League match, leading Enzo Maresca’s side to a fourth straight victory in all competitions.
Brighton took an early lead through Georginio Rutter’s header, but were powerless as Palmer took command of the contest with a rapid hat-trick.
His quadruple came in the space of 20 minutes, with Carlos Baleba’s strike to make it 3-2 swiftly cancelled out by the Chelsea talisman’s fourth goal of an extraordinary performance.
The Blues climb to third place, a point behind Manchester City and Arsenal, while Brighton drop to eighth after suffering their first defeat of the season.
Can Chelsea push on and challenge for the title after a good start to the season?