Xabi Alonso's Chelsea are winning – without the ball

Following a 4-3 victory over Brighton, Xabi Alonso's Chelsea side drew attention for their statistical profile: they recorded just 25.6% possession, their lowest in the Premier League since 2003.

While some attribute this to game state—the team established an early lead—these figures follow a similar trend from their away win against Fulham. For a top-six club, such low possession is highly unusual and sparks debate over whether the tactical landscape of the Premier League is shifting.

Currently, Xabi Alonso is relying on technical midfielders due to fitness concerns surrounding Moises Caicedo. This limits the team's ability to dominate the center of the pitch, leading to a more conservative defensive block. While this setup allows Chelsea to thrive in transition through the individual quality of players like Cole Palmer, it grants opponents the freedom to control the pace of the game.

The team's approach may evolve if they secure reinforcements for the midfield. Alonso has a proven track record of tactical adaptation, most notably transforming Bayer Leverkusen into invincible Bundesliga champions. For now, he is maximizing his attacking frontline's strengths, but sustainable title contention may require finding a better balance between direct play and overall control.