Chelsea made a thrilling start to the season under Xabi Alonso but defeats at Arsenal, Hull, and Brentford have exposed key weaknesses. The new Blues boss must solve defensive frailties and get injured midfielder Moises Caicedo fit ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. Chelsea's defence has conceded more goals than any other side, while the midfield struggles without Caicedo, who has played just 14 minutes this season.
Sky Sports News reporter James Savundra highlighted that it is now 21 Premier League matches since Chelsea last kept a clean sheet — a remarkable statistic for a club of their stature. Upcoming fixtures include Bournemouth, Everton, Spurs, Liverpool, Man Utd, and Sunderland before the next international break. Savundra noted that defensive issues predate Alonso's arrival and require urgent attention.
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez, signed as a solution, is still adapting after a slow start. Maxence Lacroix's injury woes have disrupted the backline, with the favoured trio of Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Lacroix yet to gel. Josh Acheampong also needs a defined role amid fan demand for his inclusion.
Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson's unexpected start against Brentford underscored the midfield's instability. Alonso faces mounting pressure to stabilise both defence and midfield to reverse Chelsea's early-season slide.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing