Alonso's Chelsea: 3-2, 4-3, then 2-1 at the Emirates
Seven goals in two wins, then a first loss. The start is loud. The defence is the argument.
Why this start matters
Xabi Alonso’s first three Premier League games scored like a pinball table. Fulham 2-3 Chelsea on 24 August. Chelsea 4-3 Brighton on 30 August. Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea on 6 September. Six points from nine. Eight goals scored, seven conceded. That is a personality, not a plan you put on a slide.
What actually happened
Against Fulham, Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored in Alonso’s first league match. Against Brighton, Romeo Lavia 4’, Pedro Neto 14’, Joao Pedro 32’, Cole Palmer 74’. Brighton: Malick Yalcouye 35’, a Joao Pedro own goal 63’, Pascal Gross 90+6’. ESPN noted Brighton were the first side in 50 years to score three or more in four successive league games against Chelsea. They still lost.
At the Emirates, Rogers volleyed Chelsea ahead after 77 seconds. PremierLeague.com says Chelsea became the first team in Premier League history to score inside the opening five minutes in each of their first three games. Havertz equalised in the 25th. Odegaard won it after the break. Raya saved Estevao late. Alonso used the word suffering.
What it changes
Chelsea are fourth on six points. Arsenal and City have nine. The attack is not the question. The question is whether a team that concedes seven in three can live in a title sentence. Matchweek 4 is Chelsea vs Hull. Hull have not conceded. That is the next test, not a result.
Sources
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