It may only be mid-October, but there is little positivity left regarding a successful title defence. Last season, Chelsea were eight points behind after six games and required a record-equalling winning streak to get out in front. Hence, Blues fans are justifiably not projecting much optimism.
Manchester United had done their job and grabbed a point from their tricky away clash against Liverpool. However, City then proceeded to show why Jose Mourinho should have gone for all three points. They put seven goals past Stoke City. Seven.
Chelsea, therefore, just had to dispatch Crystal Palace. Not only that, but with zero goals and zero points from the opponent’s opening seven games, the Blues should have boosted their goal difference.
Instead, a reinvigorated Palace drew inspiration from deep within and took the game to the champions. They scored early and Chelsea drew level. But Palace were undeterred and doubled their season goal tally before the end of the first half.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were devoid of creativity and backbone. With N’Golo Kante and Alvaro Morata missing, the Blues’ terrible summer business came back to haunt them.
Given a chance to show why he deserves more minutes, Michy Batshuayi flopped as disastrously as Roy Hodgson’s England team. Tammy Abraham, on the other hand, bagged a brace as Swansea City won 2-0. Who would you prefer in your team?
More concerningly, Victor Moses came off with a hamstring injury. As Chelsea’s disabled list grows, the cracks on the field are getting wider and wider.
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