RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
Xabi Alonso will be concerned by his side's struggles to keep possession and their vulnerability from set-pieces.
Remarkably, Chelsea recorded 25.9% possession against Brighton , the lowest in a league match managed by Alonso across his spells at Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.
They also completed just 146 passes, Chelsea's lowest figures on record in a Premier League match.
That inability to keep the ball comes as Enzo Fernandez's exile from the first team entered a second match, with Manchester City expected to make a bid before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
The Blues also had concerns over Moises Caicedo's fitness, and he was forced off just 11 minutes into his substitute appearance.
Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia started in central midfield, while Jordan Henderson was also unavailable through injury and Valentin Barco was seemingly not yet trusted to start a Premier League match.
It is no surprise Chelsea are exploring a move for Monaco's Lamine Camara and want to ensure a replacement is lined up should Fernandez join City.
A lack of midfield protection, coupled with a switch to a back three after largely operating with a back four last season, left centre-backs Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill looking vulnerable at times.
Chelsea have scored a remarkable seven goals in their opening two league matches but they have also conceded five. They have now gone 18 games without a clean sheet, their longest such run since the 1960s.
In typical fashion, Alonso played down any concerns that his side almost threw away a three-goal lead.
"No, I would say it is quite normal," he said. "It happens in many teams, other teams that have played more games together."
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