Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Without Chelsea even kicking a ball, it has been a fantastic weekend in the Premier League for the Blues!
Two of their Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both lost on Saturday.
United were beaten 2-0 by Hull City in the lunchtime kick-off, while Spurs were defeated 3-0 in a London derby against Brentford.
Last season, United finished third in the Premier League table, seven points behind Manchester City. Going into this campaign, there was a feeling among some that they could challenge Arsenal for the title.
One game in, and that talk has already been quashed. It seemed pretty premature in the first place.
Where will Chelsea finish in the Premier League in 2026/27?
Let's hear how you think Xabi Alonso will get on this season…
Chelsea’s superior squad can finish above Manchester United and as high as second
Chelsea had an awful 2025/26 campaign, but if you compare their squad to United’s, it is better in practically every area.
Maybe I am being too premature now, with Chelsea yet to play! But on paper, an attack of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers looks like one of the best in the Premier League.
Of course, we still need to see if it will click, with Monday being the first real chance to watch the trio properly. Paul Merson has some concerns about Chelsea’s forward line, fearing that Palmer, Pedro and Rogers could get in each other’s way.
The fluidity and flexibility you tend to see in modern-day forward lines, though, should prevent that from happening.
Where Chelsea are unquestionably stronger than United is in midfield, and that will remain the case if Enzo Fernandez stays at Stamford Bridge.
Andrey Santos of Manchester United walks off
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
In United’s 2-0 defeat to Hull, Andrey Santos was named in the starting XI but struggled to control the tempo of the game. The 22-year-old and United as a whole were so underwhelming and looked nothing like a team capable of coming second.
Santos is a good player, but he left Chelsea because he could not get into the team ahead of Fernandez and Caicedo. Yet for United, the Brazilian is set to become a key midfielder…
READ MORE:Man United fans give honest verdict on Andrey Santos’ Premier League debut vs Hull City
Ultimately, Chelsea have more quality than United, even if they did not show it last season. With that in mind, Xabi Alonso’s side can definitely finish as high as second place this term.
A lot has been said about United finishing in and around there and Spurs also having a bright campaign after the transfer window that they have had. However, Chelsea are better than both, and while it is only the first weekend of the season and you cannot discount City just yet, I really fancy our chances of being Arsenal’s closest challengers. Cue a 2-0 loss to Fulham on Monday!