Sunderland claimed a 1-0 home win over Chelsea, with Enzo le Fee converting the only goal from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. Xabi Alonso’s side made constant changes to their formation and personnel, and their identity problems continued.
The penalty followed a challenge by Levi Colwill on Brian Brobbey. Moments earlier, Chelsea had been denied a penalty when Cole Palmer went down under a challenge from Luke O’Nien, but the video assistant referee ruled that the contact had begun outside the box. The two decisions in quick succession left Alonso and his staff visibly angry on the touchline.
Alonso refused to criticise the officials after the match. Instead, he directed his frustration at his players. Asked whether Brobbey was unstoppable, the 44-year-old replied: “No, he’s stoppable. He’s stoppable, but we have to do it better than we did today.”
He added: “Out of almost nothing he got a couple of chances. He got the penalty as well. I’m not happy with how we defended that situation. It’s something that we could have avoided, something that we had worked on during the week. To concede penalties is not good for us.”
Changing shape and selection
Chelsea lined up with a three-man midfield for the first time this season, and they were again without a recognised striker for the second match in a row. Pedro Neto struggled to lead the line at the Stadium of Light. Colwill was substituted at half-time, and Moises Caicedo filled in at centre-back despite having barely completed a full training session all week and needing careful management of his fitness.
Sunderland, by contrast, were led by target man Brobbey. Chelsea created few clear chances. The best of them came when Morgan Rogers, the £117m signing, headed wide. Palmer also struggled, days after being left out of the England squad.
Chelsea enjoyed 68.7% possession at Sunderland, having averaged just 46% before the game, but they struggled to turn that control into significant chances.
Injuries and a shifting XI
Only Tottenham (28) have made more line-up changes than Chelsea (24) in the Premier League this season. Alonso’s side began the campaign with a settled and exciting front three of Joao Pedro, Rogers and Palmer, and that trio was largely behind a positive start.
Injuries have since disrupted the plans. Caicedo was missing for a spell, and captain Reece James was injured after the international break. Joao Pedro sustained a thigh injury after featuring in wins against Bournemouth and Everton. Number one goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez broke his jaw in a collision at Everton, and Maxence Lacroix is expected to be out until January with a hamstring injury. Defender Jorrel Hato has also suffered a setback.
Alonso said: “There are situations. Yesterday Josh [Acheampong] said he was not ready to play, so we are short of options and we need to walk through this step. Even when we win, when we lose, we miss some players that we have injured and for sure we are waiting for them to come back because they are important.”
Supporters have also questioned the use of Estevao Willian, who came on at half-time on Sunday but has started only one league match this season.
Still searching for an identity
Chelsea have won five, lost four and drawn one of their 10 Premier League games under Alonso. They have also had plenty of chances at both ends. Their 53 shots on target lead the league, but only Crystal Palace have conceded more shots on target than Chelsea’s 50.
Chelsea sit fifth in the table and have collected five more points than they managed from the equivalent fixtures last season, when they finished 10th. That is a modest benchmark, however. Alonso wanted his side to be “unpredictable” before the season started, and while injuries have been beyond his control, that unpredictability has so far worked against them.
Going into the November international break, Alonso remains some way from establishing a consistent style of play. He has promised that Chelsea will be “different” and “better” by the end of the season.