Jamie Carragher criticises three Chelsea stars over Kaoru Mitoma goal for Brighton

Jamie Carragher took aim at Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto and Filip Jorgensen for their part in Kaoru Mitoma’s stunning goal in Brighton’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea.

The opening stages of the first half proved cagey but Mitoma brought the Premier League contest to life with an exquisite strike to break the deadlock in the 27th minute.

Chelsea’s scrambling defenders failed to deal with Bart Verbruggen’s searching goal kick and the Japan winger capitalised in some style, taking the ball down with an astonishing first touch before finding the corner of Filip Jorgensen’s net.

Just ten minutes later, the Seagulls had a second through Yankuba Minteh, who beat Jorgensen with a controlled effort to send the Amex Stadium into raptures after some fine play between Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.

Minteh got his second of the night to increase the deficit just past the hour-mark and Chelsea had nothing in response, with Brighton holding firm to consign the visitors to their second loss in three games.

‘I cannot believe that first touch,’ ex-Liverpool defender Carragher said while analysing Mitoma’s wondergoal.

‘I said before the game out on the pitch that I couldn’t wait to see Mitoma and Cole Palmer.

‘They’re almost two throwbacks really, teams are so organised now.’

Watching back Mitoma’s extraordinary first touch, a dumbfounded Carragher added: ‘What is that?! Oh, wow.

‘Wow, look at that… that’s [Lionel]-Messi like.

‘That’s one of the best goals we’ve seen this season.’

After a few moments had passed, Carragher took aim at the questionable positioning of Chalobah and Gusto for Mitoma’s strike.

The former England centre-back also questioned the role of Jorgensen, who was once again given the nod ahead of Robert Sanchez in Enzo Maresca’s starting XI.

‘When I was looking back at the goal, I didn’t want to take anything away from the finish,’ Carragher added.

‘Tariq Lamptey just makes Gusto go a little bit wider and it means Mitoma gets in between Chalobah and Gusto, just allows him to bring it down. Nobody is really tight enough to him initially.

‘It’s not what you’d say is a mistake by the goalkeeper but it’s the type of save the Liverpool goalkeeper or the Arsenal goalkeeper would make and keep it out.’

Gary Neville was similarly taken aback by Mitoma’s incredible strike but also felt both Chalobah and Jorgensen could have done more to prevent Chelsea from going behind on the south coast.

‘It’s incredible. Honestly, what he’s done there, watching that ball come over his head, to control it,’ the ex-Manchester United and England right-back said in the Sky Sports studio at half-time.

‘And this next bit is even better. To snap it inside… the goalkeeper has got to save it but this is really, really special.

‘The balance, the touch, the way in which he shifts the ball to the side. It’s spectacular, it really is.’

Turning his attentions to Chelsea’s defending, Neville added: ‘I think Chalobah should go and head it or try and head it to start with.

‘But the goalkeeper should save it. It’s not in the corner, it’s the only place that Mitoma is going to put it.

‘He gets a hand to it and it goes through his hand and pushes his hand back a little bit so it’s not a good moment for the goalkeeper. But let’s be positive for once.’

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