Chelsea without a league clean sheet in 21; Caicedo limited to 14 mins

📰 Chelsea's defensive problem is laid bare by one number: 21 league games without a clean sheet. 📌 Key points 🧤 Chelsea have gone 21 Premier League games without a clean sheet. 🛡️ Their 12 goals conceded this season is the most in the league. 🩹 Injury has restricted Caicedo to 14 league minutes this season. 🔄 Henderson made his Chelsea debut alongside Barco against Brentford. 📅 Six games follow before the next break, starting with Bournemouth. 📝 What happened 🧤 In an analysis on 7 October, Sky Sports noted that Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in 21 Premier League matches. Sky Sports News reporter James Savundra said: "For a club the size of Chelsea that simply isn't good enough." The issue predates Alonso's arrival. 🛡️ Goalkeeper Emi Martinez and defender Maxence Lacroix were brought in to fix it but have struggled, and left-back Levi Colwill has looked vulnerable in recent games. Chelsea's 12 goals conceded is the league's worst record. 🩹 Midfield is a problem too. Caicedo has played only 14 minutes of league football because of injury, which led to Jordan Henderson making his Chelsea debut alongside Valentin Barco against Brentford, a pairing few predicted. 🔍 Savundra said Romeo Lavia and Reece James will "audition" to prove Chelsea do not need a January signing, while Marco Palestra's recovery and Caicedo's fitness are key to stabilising the side. 📊 By the numbers • 21 league games without a clean sheet • 12 goals conceded this season, the most in the league • Caicedo: 14 league minutes • Six games before the next international break 🔭 Why it matters Bournemouth, Everton, Tottenham, Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, Manchester United and Sunderland come next. If the defence is not fixed in that run, the pressure to strengthen in January will only grow. Chelsea return to league action against Bournemouth on 10 October.