Strike

So almost a whole new XI hmmm

I am leaning on pragmatism again. Mainly because I have zero faith in the defense holding it together in an attacking approach. It will make for another painful viewing but if it avoids a confidence-sapping loss, I'll take it at this point !

I hope this is the last of Mount as a starter

Chilwell was superb. Handled Sevilla's biggest threat too - Ocampos and Navas

At least we can defend

Deeper of the pivot as well. He hasn't played there much. He was always the seek and destroy midfielder with someone always playing in the deeper role when he went hunting for the ball - Matic for a while before it was Jorgi later. I've always felt leaving Kante as the deeper midfielder (even in a pivot) leaves you with the in-game risk of him being caught out of position because his natural instinct is to go for the ball and cut it out

I think you're wrong. Kante has hardly, if ever played in the lone DM role. One of the occasions he did for an extended run was at the back end of last season after lockdown when Jorginho was benched.

They should but they were so bad in their most recent game against West Brom. Inexplicably out of position when the ball turned over

Pragmatic to admit that we can't play out of their press and shows how bad the team is in playing ball! A long ball would also give possession straight back anyway

Just laugh at Spurs 😂

Yes. Not in on the whole Klopp, Pep were given time, Lampard needs to be given time nonsense. But we knew we signed a young coach and the hope was he would learn on the job. I still think the time to consider this question is later this season.

Yes true but the potential is there for massive improvement with Werner, Havertz, Pulisic, Ziyech linking up in attack.

I still think the performances will settle down and our games will stop being basketball matches. Still fancy Chelsea hovering close to the top

Yeah it doesn't but saying that despite our struggles at the start, there's no breakaway in the league like last year and we are stronger (having spent 200m)

For all the doom and gloom we are two points off Liverpool who are 2nd. Doesn't look like we will have a 90+ season this year (if Van dijk is out for long) Would wait a few weeks before writing us off honestly. The basis is there for a team that can win most of the games in this league

Yep. It definitely wasn't a case of Zouma just booting it clear or down to setpiece defending. That game should not have been in the balance with minutes to go. There is an issue with the coaching/pressing work off the ball. The team has sat back and invited pressure in phases of games after taking leads - Brighton, Spurs, now Soton

I agree. Zouma was decent at the start of the season. But the continued trust in Christensen is worrying now. Zouma and Tomori was the Chelsea centre-back combination in our best run under Lampard in autumn 2019. I cannot understand how Christensen has amassed the amount of gametime he has over Tomori since the start of the year. Tomori - Zouma even looked solid vs Liverpool and Spurs this season too and Christensen was sent off after switching off and bringing down Mane. I can't believe he continues to start games and might even continue because Zouma's error was more glaring yesterday

Yeah, that was inexcusable. Zouma gave up on that after the ball by-passed him and looking back, he would have probably cleared it if he simply tried to get back and help the team

Yes but I think he has passed the eye-test apart from that moment

Even when Zouma and Christensen had the odd good game at the start of this season, I thought Frank should try Silva-Tomori. Genuinely think that could be our best bet because Tomori is rapid, could improve over the year into a decent defender. With Zouma/Chris we know what we are getting.

Its not so much an individual mistakes thing. The mistakes are a product of a coaching, pressing issue. Silva and Mendy for Zouma and Kepa will help but the midfield still needs to work out how it will play without the ball.

Weekend ruined though. What a shame.

Thought we pressed better up front when he was on.

Disagree. Ball retention was much better after Ziyech came on

Actually thought Chelsea bossed the game once Ziyech came on for Mount. Typical to concede that late free kick and defend it badly