Chelsea dropped two points at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, drawing 2-2 with promoted Hull City — a result that came hard on the heels of a defeat to Arsenal and raised questions about Xabi Alonso's new side.

Hull City deserve credit in their own right. The Tigers have been one of the Premier League's most impressive early-season stories, entering the match unbeaten and having not yet conceded a single league goal before their trip to west London.

Goals are not the problem

Chelsea's attacking output has been among the best in the division. Only Brighton & Hove Albion have scored more than Chelsea's 10 goals in the first four games, with 13 to their name — though nine of those came against a disorganised Aston Villa side and a Coventry City outfit that have struggled badly this term.

Chelsea sit fifth in the table, and the firepower on display is genuinely exciting. Alonso's side needed to score three times to beat Fulham and four times to overcome Brighton, which speaks to both their attacking verve and their defensive fragility.

The back door remains open

The numbers at the other end are where Alonso faces his stiffest early test. Chelsea have the worst goal difference and the highest number of goals conceded among the top eight sides in the division. They have shipped at least two goals in every one of their four matches, including both of their wins.

Only three teams in the entire Premier League have conceded more. For context, Crystal Palace's defensive troubles owe something to facing Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland of Manchester City in recent weeks. Ipswich Town, who have also conceded 10 times, had Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United account for five of those in a single match.

Chelsea's concessions, by contrast, have been spread across opponents and cannot be explained away so easily. On Saturday, two goals were shipped inside seven minutes — against a defence that cost £140 million, comprised entirely of players who were at Stamford Bridge last season, and featured a goalkeeper who has publicly called himself the best in the world.

Room for optimism — for now

These are early days, and there are mitigating factors. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez can be inconsistent at the start of a campaign but tends to find his best form as the season matures. Maxence Lacroix, another new arrival, was absent when Hull scored their goals and represents an option Alonso had not yet fully deployed.

Alonso has been direct about his expectations. He has pointed to the upcoming trip to Brentford as the moment he wants to see a defensive step forward from his squad. With Chelsea's attacking quality capable of overpowering most opponents, tightening at the back may be all that stands between them and a genuine title challenge.