4. Chelsea’s defensive situation is still a mess
It wouldn’t be a Chelsea match if there wasn’t some calamitous defending at one point or another.
Against Everton, it was Kurt Zouma who was doing everything possible to get the Toffees back into the match. Following a terribly misplayed clearance / pass, Chelsea were saved by the abysmal finishing of an otherwise in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin. That was by far Everton’s best chance of the match, but Chelsea’s backline still managed to fashion a few more half chances for Everton to waste.
The match served as another reminder of just how badly Chelsea need some fresh faces in defense, with Marcos Alonso and Zouma looking especially replaceable.
The only player who seems to be a long-term solution in defense is Reece James at right back. You would hope that players like Fikayo Tomori and Ethan Ampadu will eventually earn roles as consistent starters, but neither are anywhere near writing their names in pen on the team sheet.
A 4-0 victory will always feel good, and the clean sheet is certainly nice, but there’s still nothing to prove that this defense has made any real strides towards becoming anything even approaching resolute. It looks like the rest of the season will live on the idea that the best defense is a great offense. Based on the fireworks against Everton, that at least looks like a remote possibility, though you wouldn’t bank on it being the best way forward.
On Sunday, Chelsea were blessed with some thoroughly pathetic attacking play by their opposition, but there are better teams on the horizon, and it won’t be possible to outscore every one of them.
Will anyone step up and put in a string of decent performances in defense? It remains to be seen, but Chelsea will need at least a few good showings if they want to ensure Champions League football for next season.