How Chelsea fared in the same fixtures last season paints signs of growth under Xabi Alonso

There has been a level of criticism, or you could say dissatisfaction, from some Chelsea supporters over the performance of Xabi Alonso.

The results have been mixed and the identity of the team has yet to be established but Chelsea are in a better place if you compare this season’s results to the last season’s same fixtures.

So much so that Chelsea have ten more points than they did at the same stage last season, across the ten games played so far. The Hull City fixture has been excluded to ensure a like-for-like comparison.

The opening game of the 2026/27 season was Xabi Alonso’s first game with the 3-2 victory proving to be the start everyone associated with Chelsea. A big improvement to last season when Chelsea lost 2-1 against Fulham with the downfall coming after Marc Cucurella got sent off.

The goal fest earlier in the season was when the first concerns about Chelsea’s playing style began to emerge. Despite scoring four goals with less than 30% possession, questions were raised about the approach, even if it delivered three points. This was in stark contrast to the previous season, when Chelsea dominated the game but conceded three goals in the final ten minutes to lose the match.

Danny Welbeck’s double from the previous meeting was not repeated, with the change in teams making for a different contest. This time, there was no red card from Trevor Chalobah to spoil the occasion either.

Two consecutive 2-1 defeats highlight Arsenal’s current advantage over their London rivals. However, Chelsea’s attack pushed the Premier League champions much closer this time, with Morgan Rogers’ goal putting the Blues ahead, rather than Pierre Hincapié’s own goal serving as a consolation in last season’s defeat.

Another red card in this game showing Chelsea’s poor discipline last season.

We can all agree that Brentford is a difficult place to visit, with Chelsea struggling against Keith Andrews’ side on both occasions. This time, the Blues suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat, while last season saw a similar story, as a last-minute equaliser denied them all three points in a 2-2 draw.

The fixture brought 2025 to a close last year with an exhilarating first half, although Chelsea looked particularly vulnerable defensively. This season, however, it was a very different story under Xabi Alonso, as the Blues ran riot with a convincing 5-1 victory over a strong Bournemouth side.

Liam Rosenior’s downfall began here with a hugely disappointing three-goal defeat. In contrast, it was arguably Chelsea’s most complete performance under Alonso, as the Blues secured his first clean sheet and Pedro Neto scored twice.

From arguably the most complete performance of Alonso’s reign to one of the worst, Chelsea simply failed to turn up on this occasion. Last season’s 2-1 victory offered the prospect of helping relegate Spurs, but that opportunity ultimately failed to materialise.

Things were looking rosy when Michael Carrick’s Manchester United came to town last season, but what a difference six months can make. With Xabi Alonso now in charge, Chelsea secured a convincing 2-0 victory, a far cry from the 1-0 defeat suffered last time around.

Two defeats in two years have seen Sunderland emerge as something of a bogey team for Chelsea, with the Blues losing to the Mackems both in and out of form.