FORGET the title race, Chelsea could end up being snookered in the battle for the top four at this rate.

Thomas Tuchel’s side, watched on by newly-crowned Masters champion and Blues fan Neil Robertson, continued their miserable winter by throwing away another win here.

Hakim Ziyech’s blast had given them an undeserved lead, but they were pegged back by Adam Webster’s powerful header.

It was the same scenario as they had experienced against Burnley, Everton and Brighton, again, in November and December.

They are now 12 points off leaders Manchester City having played a game more, meaning the chances of catching Pep Guardiola’s leaders are surely over.

But more importantly now, they have been dragged into an unwanted scrap for their Champions League spot with West Ham, Arsenal and more breathing down their necks.

Tottenham, managed by old Blues boss Antonio Conte, may be 11 points behind but the North Londoners have a whopping FIVE games in hand.

More worryingly, the champions of Europe appear to have lost all their spark going forward.

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While £97.5million striker Romelu Lukaku had another stinker and was hooked with 11 minutes remaining.

They were fortunate to grab a point here because if Brighton had their shooting boots on, a defeat would have surely been the outcome.

Tuchel still has not beaten Graham Potter in three attempts now.

Potter has fast become one of the most in-vogue bosses in England for how he has transformed Brighton – even if he does have an unglamorous name.

The Seagulls chief said it was hard to be thought of as a sexy manager “when you are called Potter, especially if your first name is Graham”.

But it was tough not to be seduced by the football his side served up in the first 27 minutes as they dominated the champions of Europe.

The one-touch stuff was gorgeous, the passing sultry and the way Tariq Lamptey ran at his cowering former team-mates had adoring fans in a fluster.

The 21-year-old, who left Stamford Bridge for around £3million in January 2020, was deployed as a winger to expose shaky Marcos Alonso with his explosive pace.

Yet for all the easy-on-the-eye fare from the hosts, they did not actually create a whole lot in terms of chances.

Jakub Moder should have done better when Danny Welbeck cut it back to him with a cleverflick, but the Pole dragged wide.

Welbeck, who netted Brighton’s 90th-minute leveller at the Bridge in December, also fluffed his lines right when it mattered as he air-kicked Steven Alzate’s lofted pass.

And then on 28 minutes, having barely had the ball all half, Tuchel’s men took a shock lead thanks to Ziyech wellying in from 25 yards.

The Moroccan was a surprise starter after underwhelming at Manchester City on Saturday – and, in fairness, throughout his whole time at Chelsea.

But he justified it by catching out Robert Sanchez low at the near post via a powerful blast that deflected off Alexis Mac Allister.

The goal came completely against the run of the play and left most of the Amex shellshocked, including the home players.

Chelsea possibly should have made it even worse just before the break when a mistake from Dan Burn allowed Romelu Lukaku to play in Callum Hudson-Odoi.

But the England winger could not keep his composure and fired well over the bar.

Tuchel will have known his side had been outplayed in the first half – but that their experience had seen them ride out the storm, before Ziyech’s thunderstrike.

That nous was epitomised after the break as Thiago Silva used all his know-how from more than 20 years in the game to ease Welbeck off the ball as he was racing in on goal.

The same could be said for Alonso as he cynically took out Lamptey as the rapid Albion man sped away from him before the hour and was booked for his troubles.

It did not stop Potter’s side from continuing to take it to Chelsea and seconds later Mac Allister’s deflected shot forced Kepa Arrizabalaga to dive across at full stretch to keep it out.

It was a top stop, in stark contrast to the howler he let in here during the first game of last season, which paved the way for Edouard Mendy’s arrival.

But there was nothing neither Kepa nor Mendy – currently away at the African Cup of Nations – could have done about Webster’s leveller from the resulting corner.

Mac Allister swung in the set-piece into a central area where Webster had somehow wriggled free to power home a bullet header on the hour.

Brighton turned up the heat with Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard entering the fray.

Tuchel’s men were pushed onto the back foot, to the tune of “Champions of Europe, you’re having a laugh” from the joyous home fans.

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Lukaku was having another quiet game but wriggled free and forced a smart save from Sanchez in the final 18 minutes.

The £97.5million Belgian was hooked minutes later, summing up just how badly it is going for the Chelsea front man right now.

The same could be said for his team. On December 1, they were top of the league. Now not even a Champions League spot looks certain for the current holders.

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