Brentford batter Chelsea to undo Alonso’s promising start

Brentford's three-goal performance against Chelsea has exposed the Premier League champions' defensive vulnerabilities, casting doubt on Xabi Alonso's promising start to his tenure. In a 3-0 loss that catapults Brentford above their west London rivals to third place, Chelsea recorded their first points in three league games at the team's current disheveled state.

Chelsea, under Alonso's leadership, had previously displayed their attacking prowess by scoring 19 goals in their first four matches. However, the absence of Joao Pedro due to a knee injury has dampened the Blues' attacking enthusiasm. Brentford capitalized on Chelsea's inconsistent performance throughout the match, exploiting set-piece vulnerabilities.

Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago, and Fabio Carvalho scored for Brentford, with Thiago marking his return to the Premier League with a goal after a season-long goal drought. Chelsea conceded at least twice in each of their last five league games, highlighting the challenging task that Alonso faces in revitalizing his team to challenge for the title.