In-form Hull show why Chelsea fans are in for a rough ride this season

Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities overshadowed their clinical offense in a turbulent 2-2 home stalemate against Hull City. Xabi Alonso deployed an attacking setup that operated as a 2-4-4 when holding possession, and his frontline struck early after just seven minutes.

New netminder Emi Martinez claimed a set piece, triggering a quick breakout where Cole Palmer fed João Pedro, who then set up Morgan Rogers to beat Konstantinos Tzolakis at the near post. Despite crafting two goals from their new forward trident, the Blues extended their streak without a Premier League clean sheet to 20 fixtures, pushing their tally of conceded strikes to nine across four league encounters.

Even Martinez showed signs of nervousness, while an error from defender Jorrel Hato, who struggled to make an impact on the left against Hull's five-man backline, aided the visitors.

Newly promoted Hull defied preseason predictions of an immediate drop, maintaining an undefeated start with eight points through four outings. Having previously kept clean sheets in victories over Manchester United (2-0) and Coventry (1-0) alongside a scoreless draw with Aston Villa, the Tigers conceded their first two goals of the campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Rather than settling for a point after falling behind for the first time this term, the disciplined visitors actively pressed forward searching for a late victory, serenaded by away supporters taunting the critics who had dismissed them.

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