Chelsea miss Joao Pedro... and can't stop conceding goals

Chelsea 's problem was once again defending. But with striker Joao Pedro ruled out through injury, scoring goals also became an issue at Brentford on Friday.

The Brazilian striker's absence with a knee injury disrupted new manager Xabi Alonso's previously free-scoring attack, which featured Cole Palmer and club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers.

Danny Welbeck replaced the forward, but was unable to make an impact.

At Brentford , it was an even contest until Jaidon Anthony gave the hosts a 61st-minute lead - then Chelsea collapsed to a 3-0 defeat.

Early on this season, Chelsea were outscoring teams through the individual brilliance of their attack. Not now. And they have conceded 12 goals, more than any other side in the Premier League, albeit having played a game more than every other team.

Alonso is only the sixth manager to concede two or more goals in each of his first five Premier League matches in charge.

There is one conclusion to draw from that statistic: It is becoming increasingly urgent for Alonso to stop Chelsea from conceding. Some of his team's problems are inherited, but the new manager has not built any kind of tactical coherence in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Alonso has experimented with different systems, giving 11 debuts, including two on Friday - one for midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, the first 16-year-old to play for Chelsea in the Premier League, and one for new signing Jordan Henderson, 36, against his former club.