"Tipped as a potential surprise candidate for the Premier League crown before a ball was kicked, Chelsea's early inconsistency has quickly tempered such predictions. Enzo Maresca's men sit on two wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening six games, their latest setback coming in a 3-1 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. The Blues looked in control until Trevoh Chalobah's dismissal turned the tide, Danny Welbeck netting twice to punish the 10 men."
"That red card epitomised Chelsea's Achilles heel: discipline. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, no side has accrued more cards than their total of 118 - 114 yellows and four reds - and once again they finished a match a man short in Tuesday's Champions League clash. On that occasion, Joao Pedro's late sending-off did not prevent them from defeating Benfica 1-0, but domestically the eighth-placed hosts have only one point from their last three league games."
Liverpool may already have been overtaken at the top of the Premier League table before their trip to Stamford Bridge, as Arne Slot's champions show recent signs of vulnerability. Chelsea have displayed early inconsistency with two wins, two draws and two defeats from six matches and suffered a 3-1 home loss to Brighton when Trevoh Chalobah was sent off. Discipline is a major problem, with 118 cards (114 yellows, four reds) since the season began. Joao Pedro's red did not stop a 1-0 Champions League win over Benfica, but league form has dipped to one point from the last three. Chelsea sit eighth and trail the summit by seven points while facing a lengthy injury and suspension list including Chalobah, Mudryk, Dario Essugo, Tosin Adarabioyo, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Levi Colwill.
Read at Soccer News
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