Chelsea suffer a damaging 3-0 defeat against Brentford on Friday, exposing defensive weaknesses and leaving manager Xabi Alonso with plenty to address during the three-week international break.
Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho score for Brentford, who remain unbeaten and move above their west London rivals into third place in the Premier League.
The defeat means Chelsea collect just one point from their last three league matches after making a promising start under Alonso.
Chelsea had developed a reputation as one of the league’s most entertaining sides under the former Real Madrid coach, with their first four matches producing 19 goals.
However, Joao Pedro’s absence through a knee injury appears to affect their attacking threat, while Brentford keep Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers quiet for much of the game.
Alonso had said after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Hull that he wanted more “boring” matches as he looked for greater control.
He makes four changes against Brentford, including handing Jordan Henderson his first Chelsea start against his former club.
The first half proves largely uneventful, with neither goalkeeper seriously tested. Brentford, however, take control after the break.
Chelsea’s vulnerability from set-pieces is exposed just after the hour mark when Jannick Schuster wins the header from Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner, leaving Anthony to head into an unguarded net.
Chelsea struggle to respond and leave spaces at the back as they search for an equaliser.
Kevin Schade breaks through and forces a save from goalkeeper Emi Martinez, but the rebound falls to Thiago, who finishes to end his goal drought.
The Brazilian scored 25 goals last season and earned a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.
Chelsea concede again in stoppage time when Schade’s low cross deflects into the path of Carvalho, who fires past Martinez to complete the victory.
Chelsea have now conceded at least twice in all five Premier League matches under Alonso.
Brentford, who also beat Tottenham 3-0 on the opening weekend, move to third behind defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City.
The result gives Alonso further defensive issues to address before Chelsea resume their league campaign after the international break.
