Cole Palmer could force Xabi Alonso to scrap Chelsea tactic as Sunderland performance analysed

Jake Stokes of Football London argues that Cole Palmer's struggles in Chelsea's defeat to Sunderland could force manager Xabi Alonso to abandon his fluid frontline tactic. The analysis highlights that Chelsea suffered from lacking a true focal point in attack, leaving Palmer isolated after referee Jarrad Gillet and VAR Nicholas Hopton denied him a first-half penalty against Jules Ahoka and Luke O'Nien.

Stokes contends that Pedro Neto drifted wide and failed to touch the ball inside the Sunderland penalty area, offering Palmer no reference point to combine with. While substitutes Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha were introduced later, Stokes concludes that Alonso's system needs a dedicated striker like Joao Pedro to maximize Palmer's playmaking abilities.