Brentford 3–0 Chelsea, and the defending is the problem
Brentford 3–0 Chelsea on Friday, and it was ugly. Xabi Alonso's side kept a clean first half, then gave the game away in the final half-hour as Brentford's transitions tore the structure apart (4)(3).
Seven points from five games. Tenth in the table. The honeymoon is over.
Chelsea fear Josh Acheampong could leave
Chelsea are growing worried about losing Josh Acheampong. Several top European clubs are monitoring the 20-year-old defender ahead of the January window, and sources say Chelsea fear he could go (1).
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Alonso's line on him: "getting better and better" (1). That is not the sound of a manager promising minutes.
Liverpool eying Estevao Willian for £100m
Liverpool have lined up Estevao Willian as their Mohamed Salah successor and a nine-figure bid around £100m is the figure being talked about to test Chelsea's resolve (6).
Willian is 19. A bid that size would force a decision Chelsea will not enjoy making.
Lamine Camara: a Chelsea target Liverpool are moving on
Lamine Camara was a deadline-day target for Chelsea. Liverpool have now held initial talks with Monaco over him (2). If Chelsea wanted him in January, they have competition.
Reece James, still no answer
Reece James and injuries go together, and Chelsea's captain is still not back (5). Fans want a date. There isn't one.
Mesloub on the radar
Chelsea are among the clubs watching Lens teenager Mezian Mesloub, alongside Manchester United and Arsenal (8). Planning for later, not for now.
Looking back at Boehly's first window
The Todd Boehly era at Chelsea is over, so this is a look back at his first transfer window and how those signings turned out (7).
City's weekend
Manchester City beat Sunderland 5–3, with Antoine Semenyo scoring twice and adding an assist (9). City sit three points clear at the top for the next three weeks after Arsenal lost 3–0 at Brighton (3)(9).
Fan reactions
The mood is raw. The top thread is titled "THIS IS BASIC DEFENDING" after the Brentford collapse, and Levi Colwill's honest read that there were "good bits, some other not so good bits" is doing the rounds too. One bright spot fans are clinging to: Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli became Chelsea's youngest-ever Premier League player on Friday at 16 years and 225 days. There is also concern over Moises Caicedo, left out of the Ecuador squad after playing just once since the season started.
