According to a report by Football London on Monday, 2 November 2026, Chelsea would have just five points from their opening nine Premier League matches if they had repeated last season's results in the corresponding fixtures.

However, Xabi Alonso has made a significant improvement since taking charge, with Chelsea currently sitting fourth in the table on 16 points.

The Blues returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer secured three important points following defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea have won five of their opening nine league matches, beating Fulham, Brighton, Bournemouth, Everton and Manchester United.

Their three defeats have come against Arsenal, Brentford and Tottenham, while they also drew 2-2 with Hull City.

The comparison with last season highlights the scale of the improvement. Chelsea lost against Fulham, Brighton, Sunderland, Everton and Manchester United in the corresponding fixtures, while also drawing against Brentford and Bournemouth.

Those results would have left the club with just five points, placing them joint-bottom alongside Sunderland instead of fourth.

Alonso's side have also scored 19 goals in nine league matches, demonstrating their attacking improvement despite some disappointing defensive performances.

With Arsenal and Manchester City occupying the top two positions, Chelsea remain in a strong position to compete for Champions League qualification.

The improvement under Alonso has been particularly important following the difficult end to last season.

Although the defeat to Tottenham exposed areas requiring attention, Chelsea's overall progress suggests they are moving in the right direction.

A victory against Sunderland in their next league fixture would provide another opportunity to strengthen their position in the top four.