Chelsea sack Rosenior after 3-0 Brighton defeat

Chelsea have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after just three months in charge, following a catastrophic 3-0 defeat to Brighton that extended the club's losing streak to five Premier League games without scoring, marking their worst run of league form in 114 years. Rosenior, who was appointed in January on a six-year contract after Enzo Maresca's sudden departure, tore into his players following Tuesday's loss at the Amex Stadium, calling their performance "indefensible." The decision to terminate his contract is reported to cost the club approximately £24 million. Chelsea now sit seventh in the Premier League table, seven points behind Liverpool in fifth place with a game in hand, effectively ending their hopes of Champions League qualification next season. Assistant coach Calum McFarlane will take interim charge for the remainder of the season, with his first match being Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley. The club stated they will "undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment" as they search for Rosenior's replacement. Former Chelsea players Filipe Luis and Cesc Fabregas are among the early frontrunners to succeed Rosenior, while Oliver Glasner, Xavi, and Marco Silva have also been mentioned in early betting. Last week, co-owner Behdad Eghbali had publicly backed the 41-year-old Englishman, stating he had "every attribute to be successful," but the humiliating Brighton defeat forced the club's hand. Rosenior arrived at Stamford Bridge after working with Chelsea's owners at French affiliate Strasbourg under the BlueCo ownership model.