Chelsea 5–1 Bournemouth, and the Blues are up to fifth
Your team dismantled Bournemouth 5–1 at home on Saturday. Ten points from six games, fifth in the Premier League, and the mood around Xabi Alonso's side flipped in one afternoon.
Alonso did not call it a rout. "I wouldn't say it was a crazy match. There were different phases. We had good control of the play" (2) (3) (9).
Chelsea's form reads W L D L W, so a result like this was overdue.
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Henderson trained free-kicks through the international break
Jordan Henderson spent the international break practising free-kicks, and it showed (6) (9). He scored directly from one against Bournemouth.
Alonso confirmed the work: "He used the international break to practise his free-kicks" (6) (9). Henderson is now Chelsea's set-piece specialist, ahead of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers (8). Someone had already picked a celebration spot. "Palmer asked which corner we were going to celebrate in," Henderson said (8).
BBC's Chelsea fan voice Savage Dan gave Henderson the nod: "Take a bow!" (4) (10).
Alonso may have found his midfield
Moises Caicedo and Henderson look like the first-choice pair now (7). Alan Shearer was blunt about Caicedo on Match of the Day: "Absolutely superb" (2).
Alonso was just as happy to have Caicedo back. Asked how important that was, he said: "Wow, I couldn't wait to have him back to be honest" (7).
Alonso expects a clean sheet soon
Chelsea have not been keeping them, and Alonso knows it. He is not worried.
"It will come. Today we were close. A win where we keep a clean sheet is coming" (9).
Reece James is injured
Reece James picked up an injury blow ahead of the Bournemouth game, Alonso confirmed after the win (3). Chelsea won 5–1 anyway.
Chelsea ready to spend big on Fermin Lopez
Chelsea are prepared to go past €100m for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez (1). Alonso has made him a priority. Barcelona have no intention of selling (1).
Mheuka's Celtic loan is going well
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says there is more to come from Chelsea loanee Shim Mheuka (10). O'Neill also gave an injury update on Joel van den Berg (10).
Everton away is next
Chelsea travel to Everton on Saturday, October 17. Then Tottenham at home on Saturday, October 24.
Fan reactions
The subreddit is split between celebrating and worrying. One thread calls Chelsea's front three the second best in Europe, another digs into their league goal contributions and argues the attack is getting lost in all the talk about the defence. Alonso's line about Caicedo, "Wow, I couldn't wait to have him back to be honest", is doing the rounds too. Front three thread
