The reigning European Champion Chelsea has started the new Premier League campaign in a positive fashion. Seven points from the first three games is a very healthy return, especially when one considers the opposition the Blues have encountered. Before the season started, when the fixtures were announced Chelsea’s opening couple of months of the season always looked very daunting and tough on paper.
Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, under new management, was always going to be hard considering that three days before, Chelsea played for 120 minutes in the UEFA Super Cup final against Villarreal. It was a game that went all the way to penalties, which the Blues eventually won. Tuchel’s men defeated Palace 3-0 to kick off the domestic campaign. The talk pre and post-match was all about Chelsea’s new £97.5 million striker, Romelu Lukaku.
The big Belgian went on to make his debut in the following match away at the Emirates Stadium in a London derby against Arsenal. Lukaku started and also scored his first goal for the Blues in a comprehensive 2-0 victory for the Blues. Reece James scored the second at the Emirates. The west London club had two wins from two matches. Chelsea was only one of four teams (joining Tottenham, Liverpool and West Ham) heading into the third weekend with a 100 percent record.
The Blues found themselves on the road again, off to Anfield for a highly anticipated contest against in-form Liverpool. Kai Havertz gave Chelsea the lead with a wonderful header from a corner in the first half. The Blues were very dangerous during the opening 45, only for a highly controversial decision on the stroke of halftime to quickly tear down the progress made. The ball struck Reece James’ arm after bouncing off his thigh at a very lightning speed right on the goal line. Referee Anthony Taylor went over to the Referee Review Area and looked at a still image where the ball hit James’ arm for a few seconds before rightly awarding the penalty rightly. However, the controversy came when he showed a straight red card to the England international. The sending off seemed very harsh but many people agreed with the referee’s decision. The game ended 1-1. The Blues put on an outstanding second half defensive display with 10 men. That was surely a point gained rather than two dropped, considering the circumstances.
Thomas Tuchel and Co. without a doubt delivered a performance, even this early on, of potential champions. The “you shall not pass” attitude poised through the whole team from back to front. Veteran Thiago Silva came on at halftime against the Reds and calmed the team after what transpired before the break. Andreas Christensen came of age—and not for the first time under Tuchel—in that match against Liverpool, putting in a Man of the Match performance. Captain Cesar Azpilicueta, reliable as ever in defence, was immense as well.
The German coach undoubtedly learned plenty from his side’s mentality and pure determination to not concede another goal with 10 men in that second half at Anfield. Chelsea has a clear style of play under Tuchel: 3-4-3 with two wingbacks and two defensive midfielders sitting in behind the attacking mid. This season, however, with the addition of Lukaku, the coach can deploy a 3-5-2 formation with Timo Werner alongside the Belgian international. The Blues have an impressively deep squad. Deadline day signing Saul Niguez just adds more flair and quality to the midfield.
Early signs from Chelsea have been impressive. September will be another testing month for the Blues with the UEFA Champions League and the Carabao Cup also getting underway this month. They face weekend opponents Aston Villa twice this month in league and cup in addition to a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a visit from Premier League champion Manchester City. The Blues could be in a very strong position in the league at the end of this month or should they drop a couple of points, could see them fall behind the early pace setters.
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