Chelsea
If Xabi Alonso Took Charge at Chelsea: Formation, Principles and a Projected XI
Alonso favours a 3-4-2-1 at Chelsea, prioritising possession, an elite press and ball play and ball.
Chelsea’s search for a permanent manager to replace Liam Rosenior could stretch into a lengthy process. One realistic scenario is Xabi Alonso arriving and reshaping the team in his preferred image. From his time at Bayer Leverkusen Alonso established a clear affinity for a 3-4-2-1; that formation, or a fluid back four that builds into a three, is likely to be his starting point should he agree to take the job.
Alonso favours tactical flexibility, control of possession and an aggressive, attacking press. Chelsea possess pieces compatible with that blueprint but the squad’s relative inexperience means significant coaching and organisation would be required.
A plausible XI and the reasoning behind each selection:
GK: James Trafford. Uncertainty over Robert Sánchez’s true ability leaves Chelsea needing a ball-playing upgrade. The Blues would be wise to try and lure Trafford away from Manchester City to give Alonso’s side a reliable base from which to build.
CB: Reece James. A shift back to a 3-4-2-1 would see James moved centrally, with the demands of a wing back considered too great for his injury-prone frame. In the middle he can still step forward into midfield when required.
CB: Levi Colwill. Enzo Maresca made a point of stressing Colwill’s ability as a central center back. The academy graduate is among the best passers of the ball in his position and would fit well into Alonso’s system.
CB: Edmond Tapsoba. A key cog of Alonso’s success with Bayer Leverkusen, Tapsoba would bring height, aerial power and composure on the ball that Chelsea currently lack at the back.
RM: Malo Gusto. The wing back must shuttle up and down the flank. Gusto is the most obvious option, with Pedro Neto also mentioned as an alternative and room for Geovany Quenda if he impresses after his arrival from Sporting CP this summer.
CM: Moisés Caicedo. The defensive lynchpin, Caicedo is an elite, box-to-box talent whose importance is self-evident.
CM: Enzo Fernández. Alonso might prefer a more defensive presence here, but pressure to play Fernández is likely if no buyers meet Chelsea’s asking price. The challenge would be converting him into a more Xhaka-like role, taking cues from Alonso’s work with Arda Güler in Madrid.
LM: Marc Cucurella. If he remains at the club he would start, potentially returning to the wing back role in which he impressed at Brighton.
AM: Cole Palmer. The central creative figure, Palmer would be tasked with regaining his best form in a fluid front three to create and score chances.
The projected setup prioritises possession, structured ball progression and an intense front-foot press, while relying on targeted recruitment and coaching to adapt the current squad to Alonso’s demands.
Chelsea
Carrick under pressure after United’s latest barren run
Carrick has tied a unwanted United record as pressure rises, and Chelsea now looms next.
Michael Carrick’s start has become harder to defend after Manchester United’s latest setback at Old Trafford, with the manager now matching a sequence the club had not seen since the early part of the century.
United have never gone nine matches without a win since 2000, but Carrick has now equalled the eight-game stretch previously recorded by Louis van Gaal between November and December 2015. That run remains a familiar reference point, not least because Van Gaal kept his job despite it.
The Dutchman’s sequence ended with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea, a result that appeared to buy him more time. He then opened 2016 with a 2-1 victory over Swansea City, a result that helped him see out the season. Whether Carrick receives the same patience is now the central question.
United’s next fixture is another meeting with Chelsea, and it arrives at a moment when the club need something to shift quickly. The Blues’ performance against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday was described as awful, which at least leaves open the possibility of a much-needed response from Carrick’s side.
The wider picture is bleak. As the analysis notes, there is effectively little United can do to change matters other than dismiss the manager. Results are demanded immediately, yet the feeling around the club is that Carrick has too few allies in senior positions if performances continue at this level.
The problems extend beyond the dugout. The board are under scrutiny, but any real reset would take time. The ownership need to settle on a direction, the recruitment team need to prioritise properly and the squad needs to be cleared of a toxic culture that is dragging everything down. Those are not fixes that happen overnight.
Pressure is also building around Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, but replacing two of the club’s most powerful figures would be another long and complicated process. United do not have the luxury of waiting, with Chelsea, Roma, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Sporting CP and Brentford all next on the schedule. On current form, the winless run could easily grow even longer.
Aston Villa
Matchday 8: A Weekend of Rain, Errors and Narrow Margins Across the Premier League
Stormy conditions, missed chances and decisive errors shaped a Matchday 8 full of fine margins.
There was little sunshine to be found on Matchday 8, as Storm Boelo lashed English grounds with rain and wind. For all the bad weather, only one fixture finished goalless, and the round still produced a sharp series of swings in tone, quality and consequence.
Manchester United’s latest setback stood out for all the wrong reasons. Without Bruno Fernandes, they looked short of attacking life again, while Bournemouth made the most of what they created in a 3-0 win. Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur earned a notable victory at Stamford Bridge after Mike Penders handed them the opening goal, with Cole Palmer adding to Chelsea’s problems by picking up two unnecessary yellow cards.
Several matches were defined more by frustration than fluency. Fulham struggled to trouble Coventry, managing just two shots on target, while Crystal Palace surrendered control against Newcastle after leading the shot count at the break. Everton were pushed back by Arsenal and rarely threatened after falling behind early. Ipswich and Nottingham Forest finished level after a match in which neither side found much rhythm, even if the visitors were able to make more of the contest than their hosts.
Brentford’s draw away to newly promoted opposition drew a blunt response from Keith Andrews and Michael Kayode, who both said, “We have to be better.” Sunderland also shared the points in a contest shaped by the conditions, with Régis Le Bris pleased enough to say, “We were Sunderland today.” At the Stadium of Light, the wind played a major role in a game where both teams completed only 73% of their passes.
There were also decisive moments at Anfield and Villa Park. Liverpool saw Brighton’s recent momentum halted as early goals changed the shape of the match, while Villa took control through Nicolas Jackson’s sharp finishing and a commanding display from Zion Suzuki, who produced six saves and 12 line-breaking passes. In another tight contest, Hull and their opponents could not be separated, and Sergej Jakirović called it “a fair result.”
The weekend’s final judgement was not about one storyline alone, but about a league round where weather, missed chances and single moments repeatedly decided the outcome.
Chelsea
Palmer Avoids Premier League Ban as Chelsea Suspension Falls in Carabao Cup
Palmer serves his ban in the Carabao Cup, so Chelsea avoid a Premier League absence for him.
Cole Palmer will not miss a Premier League match after his red-card suspension was absorbed by Chelsea’s midweek Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool. The one-game ban will be served in that fixture, leaving him available for league duty despite the dismissal.
The midfielder’s night turned late in the contest after stand-in goalkeeper Mike Penders helped the visitors in front with a costly own goal in the 77th minute. Soon afterwards, Palmer picked up a second yellow card, having already been booked for running into Mateus Fernandes. On another occasion, that incident might have brought a red card immediately, but the greater problem came when he stood on Conor Gallagher’s ankle.
The scheduling and the FA handbook have combined to spare Palmer from a Premier League absence, although he will miss Chelsea’s next match, which is the trip to Anfield. That means he will not be available for the fourth round Carabao Cup tie on Wednesday night.
Chelsea’s record at Anfield remains a poor one. They have not won there in front of fans since 2018, when Eden Hazard inspired a side managed by Maurizio Sarri to a Carabao Cup third round victory. This time, however, their No. 10 will be watching from the sidelines.
Palmer addressed the fallout on social media the next morning. “Not good enough by me,” he wrote on Instagram. “Live n learn. Apologies. On to the next.”
The manager was more restrained in his assessment and chose not to publicly escalate the issue. “I need to check the action to talk with Cole, but it is one to learn for the future for sure,” he said after the match.
He added: “I think that Cole, when he is focused on the game, when he is enjoying, and today after the 1–0, it is a moment to keep calm, a moment to keep mature and for everyone.”
