Chelsea’s woes continued at the weekend as they suffered a 1-0 Premier League defeat against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
It was their third straight game without finding the back of the net under Mauricio Pochettino and in the process, they have drawn blank on 13 occasions in the league in 2023.
This is their worst record since 1995 where they failed to score in 14 games. Judging by their poor scoring form, they could eclipse that tally before the October international break.
The Blues have had huge investment in the squad under Clearlake Capital Group, but there has been a genuine lack of cohesion within the squad with new players in every position.
Under Graham Potter, they were woeful for most of the previous campaign before he was temporarily replaced by Frank Lampard. The club secured their worst-ever Premier League finish.
After a bright pre-season under Pochettino, many believed that the Blues could be contenders for the top four, but they find themselves 14th in the table after six games with only five points.
Taking out the relegated and promoted teams from the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, Chelsea have accumulated the same points as Everton (25) this year, having played two more matches.
This says a lot about the staggering downfall of the west London giants. Being level with Everton, who just avoided relegation last season, showcases the troubles the club have had in the last 16 months.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are still yearning for a goalscorer in the squad. Nicolas Jackson has been a huge disappointment. He has netted just once in the league, but has bizarrely picked up five yellow cards.
Pochettino has played him in every game up front and his suspension for the next league game could be a blessing in disguise as Armando Broja could get the opportunity to prove his credentials.
Taking about goalscorers, Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku has scored three goals in his last three starts for Roma. He now has 59 goals in 100 Serie A games. Only five players have netted more than him after 100 games in the Italian top-flight.
From a neutral point of view, one must wonder why Pochettino did not try and integrate Lukaku back into the squad. The Blues could be back in the transfer market for a marquee striker in January.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
