Seeking balance at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea have enjoyed a chaotic start under Spanish coach Xabi Alonso. The team sits as the third highest scorers in the Premier League with 15 goals from their six games, yet no team in the division has conceded more than their 13.
In total there have been 28 goals scored in Chelsea league games so far, with six more coming in last weekend's 5-1 win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Alonso stated that it is too early to tell whether the club is heading in the right direction. He noted that February will provide enough games to see where they are going and if it is the right way.
Midfield stability and injuries
Much of the issue in conceding goals has come from a lack of control in midfield, a problem that appeared largely to have been fixed as Moisés Caicedo made his first start of the season. The return of the Ecuador midfielder after a calf injury brought far greater stability, alongside Jordan Henderson who scored his first two goals for the club.
The pair are likely to be used together more in the coming weeks because Reece James is likely to be out beyond Christmas after undergoing minor surgery on a knee problem. Roméo Lavia also featured for 25 minutes against Bournemouth and performed well.
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