Chelsea’s defensive start to the Premier League season has prompted a warning that Xabi Alonso’s side could move towards unwanted history if their current problems continue.
The Blues have conceded 12 goals in their opening five league matches, more than any other Premier League side.
Chelsea did not reach that total until their 13th league game last season.
Their 3-0 defeat at Brentford also extended the club’s wait for a Premier League clean sheet to 21 matches.
Chelsea defensive numbers spark warning
Chelsea supporter and talkSPORT pundit Rory Jennings has now highlighted how damaging the current rate could become.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Jennings argued that Chelsea risk approaching record-breaking territory unless Alonso finds a solution.
If Chelsea’s current rate of 2.4 goals conceded per game continued across an entire 38-match season, it would equate to roughly 91 goals conceded.
That is an extrapolation rather than a forecast.
However, it illustrates just how poor the opening five matches have been defensively.
Our Chelsea clean-sheet tracker shows the Blues have now conceded in 21 consecutive Premier League fixtures.
Set pieces remain a major Chelsea problem
The issues are not limited to one area.
Chelsea have been exposed in transitions, made individual mistakes and struggled badly from dead-ball situations.
Captain Levi Colwill admitted after the Brentford defeat that Chelsea have been “bullied” inside their own penalty area.
That is especially concerning after the summer appointment of set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee.
Our tactical analysis of the Brentford defeat also showed how Chelsea became increasingly vulnerable once they lost control of the match.
Alonso now has the extended international break to work on those problems.
Chelsea return against Bournemouth on 10 October.
The numbers after five games are already alarming enough without allowing the current trend to develop any further.
Chelsea injury news: Palmer, James and Caicedo latest
Chelsea injury news: Palmer, James and Caicedo latest
Bompastor backs Chelsea to win Champions League
Bompastor backs Chelsea to win Champions League