Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has endured a challenging start in the Premier League, as he joins a list of only five other managers whose teams have conceded at least two goals in each of their opening five matches.
Notable figures on this unfortunate list include Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic, and Scott Parker.
The Blues have also continued a different worrying trend, having suffered 11 defeats in the Premier League over the course of 2026, surpassing the 10 losses they recorded throughout the entirety of 2025.
A significant issue for Chelsea this season has been their vulnerability from set pieces. Since the beginning of last season, they have let in 23 goals from set pieces, excluding penalties — the joint worst record in the Premier League alongside Bournemouth.
Additionally, the match saw a historic moment for young Chelsea talent Mahdi Nikola-Djazuli, who became the first player born in 2010 to feature in the Premier League, as well as being the youngest player from the club to play in the league at just 16 years old.
On the flip side, Brentford have marked a milestone of their own, going unbeaten in their first five matches of a top-flight season for the first time in history, claiming two victories and three draws.
