But with striker Joao Pedro ruled out through injury, scoring goals also became an issue at Brentford on Friday. The Brazilian striker's absence with a knee injury disrupted new manager Xabi Alonso's previously free-scoring attack, which featured Cole Palmer and club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers. Danny Welbeck replaced the forward, but was unable to make an impact.
At Brentford, it was an even contest until Jaidon Anthony gave the hosts a 61st-minute lead - then Chelsea collapsed to a 3-0 defeat. Early on this season, Chelsea were outscoring teams through the individual brilliance of their attack. And they have conceded 12 goals, more than any other side in the Premier League, albeit having played a game more than every other team.
Alonso is only the sixth manager to concede two or more goals in each of his first five Premier League matches in charge. There is one conclusion to draw from that statistic: It is becoming increasingly urgent for Alonso to stop Chelsea from conceding. Some of his team's problems are inherited, but the new manager has not built any kind of tactical coherence in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Alonso has experimented with different systems, giving 11 debuts, including two on Friday - one for midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, the first 16-year-old to play for Chelsea in the Premier League, and one for new signing Jordan Henderson, 36, against his former club. Ultimately, it was a tale of Chelsea's attack not firing, and the team then falling apart after Brentford got their noses in front. With the extended international break coming up, they have three weeks to stew on this latest defeat.
Superb Brentford beat Chelsea to maintain unbeaten start A weight off Igor Thiago's shoulders - Brentford v Chelsea ratings Chelsea signed a striker from Brighton for the second successive summer, bringing in Welbeck to reunite him with Joao Pedro and provide support in attack. Welbeck, 35, was tidy in possession but, with little service, managed only 17 touches before being substituted in the 71st minute. Unlike Joao Pedro, who is capable of creating chances for himself, Welbeck found it difficult to influence the game in the same way.
Joao Pedro came into the weekend with the most goal involvements in the Premier League, having scored three and provided three assists in four appearances this season. His impact extends beyond goals and assists, with the Brazilian linking well with Palmer and Rogers. Against Brentford, however, Rogers arguably produced his quietest performance since arriving from Aston Villa in the summer.
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