Image source, Opta
Joe Bradshaw, BBC Sport
Three wins, two draws, three defeats.
A fairly standard start for a mid-table Premier League side. Only this is Chelsea, and last season’s 12th-placed finish was a huge shock to the system.
Now they are 11th after eight games - so nothing has changed. Or has it?
When expected goals for and against are taken into account, the Blues’ season so far starts to take a more positive sheen with Opta placing them at fifth in the table for those metrics.
Granted, the schedule has been gentle and Mauricio Pochettino would have expected more points than collected, but Chelsea have at least shown plenty of life under his stewardship according to chances created.
If they had a player to score reliably, that points tally might look far more healthy.
They have also kept up the miserly defence from last season to concede the joint second-fewest goals in the division.
Upcoming games against Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City will certainly test their credentials, but arguably the pressure is off given their current status buried in the middle of the pack.
These games also offer a tantalising chance to back up their underlying numbers with tangible actions.
