Quick-fire Chelsea’s speedy start too hot to handle for Bournemouth as Jordan Henderson rolls back the years – but there remains a major concern for Xabi Alonso, writes KIERAN GILL

DAILYMAIL.COM • 2h ago

By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER 18:07 10 Oct 2026, updated 18:08 10 Oct 2026

Chelsea being kick-off bullies, Cole Palmer’s family made a rookie mistake. There they were pitch-side – his parents, his siblings, his girlfriend – to celebrate his new contract until 2034 as he walked out of the tunnel for the start of this entertaining encounter with Bournemouth.

But then they had to head to their seats, the suavest ones usually up high in the Gods. By the time they had climbed Stamford Bridge’s staircases, Chelsea were already leading 2-0.

They should have known these speedy starts are becoming a trademark of this side. Xabi Alonso does not strike you as the effing and blinding type. We cannot imagine his speeches work the players into such a frenzy that they are frothing at the mouth for that first whistle.

And yet just look at their quite remarkable record in the Premier League this season. Against Fulham: Chelsea led after 38 seconds. Against Brighton: three minutes and 39 seconds. Against Arsenal: 77 seconds. Against Hull: six minutes and 15 seconds.

Here, Jordan Henderson scored Chelsea’s first goal after 66 seconds, set up by Palmer. Then Morgan Rogers scored their second after 149, assisted by Henderson.

‘I have nothing to do with it so I don’t have the answer,’ Alonso said. ‘I have no explanation. It has never happened to me in such a short period to score that many early goals.’

Unfortunately for Henderson, it was not quite the fastest goal-and-assist combo in Premier League history. That honour still belongs to Emile Heskey for Leicester against Derby in April 1998. Heskey managed to score and assist inside two minutes.

Yet this was some home debut from Henderson at 36 years young. Whatever Chelsea’s fans may have had on their bingo card as they arrived at Stamford Bridge, a brace featuring two screamers from their free signing from Brentford was unlikely to feature on it.

But Henderson got this party going, and ended it exceptionally, too.

His strike for Chelsea’s first goal was sublime. Palmer led the attack then teed him up for the curler from 20 yards, the ball satisfyingly pinging in off the post. Henderson had covered 40 yards without any Bournemouth player ever thinking to pick him up. In their defence, he is not known for such fantastic first-time finishes.

What followed was a passionate celebration from Henderson including a hand to the ear, a leap into the air and a few fists into the chests. His team-mates appeared especially ecstatic for him, Rogers being one of the first to congratulate a player he previously described as ‘the best guy I’ve ever come across in football’ while on England duty.

Chelsea held on to this lead throughout, taking their 3-0 lead when Joao Pedro scored one of his two goals here just 29 seconds into the start of the second half, finishing Pedro Neto’s cross nicely.

That was despite Bournemouth occasionally threatening to score and Emiliano Martinez often being required to deny them. There was one particular double save from Martinez which thwarted Rayan then Ryan Christie which should make the Match of the Day highlights package.

The visitors managed to sneak one through while 3-0 down when Moises Caicedo – starting for Chelsea for the first time this season after overcoming his calf injury – blasted his clearance into Bournemouth striker Evanilson for a gimme of a goal.

That is one of Chelsea’s problems. No matter how many goals they lead by, they still carry a sense of vulnerability. Bournemouth boss Marco Rose admitted afterwards that he ‘had a feeling’ they could get back into this game despite trailing 3-1.

It is now 22 consecutive games in the Premier League that Chelsea have failed to secure a clean sheet. January 17 in a 2-0 home win over Brentford was their last.

Yet Alonso’s attack has the ability to overshadow their defensive shortcomings, though nobody at Stamford Bridge anticipated their greatest goal threat here would be Henderson.

After Joao Pedro grabbed Chelsea’s fourth goal by meeting Pep Chavarria’s cross, Henderson’s strike for their fifth was equally as exceptional as his opener.

It started with Palmer winning a free-kick, 25 yards from the target. We all thought Palmer would take it. He had just signed his new contract. He had not yet gotten in on the goals like his pals. This was within his territory. Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic thought the same.

Instead, Palmer dummied, leaving Henderson to curl into the corner from 25 yards.

Most Chelsea supporters will have assumed they signed Henderson purely to add a little leadership off the pitch. But here he was crucial in crowning the win on it. During the celebration, Martinez ran over to congratulate Alonso’s set-piece coach, Austin MacPhee, which you do not usually see after a direct free-kick.

‘We signed him for everything,’ Alonso said of Henderson. ‘If he’s able to score two beauties, we are more than happy for him. But apart from the goals, he does many, many good things.’

It was during five minutes of stoppage time, and with Chelsea leading 5-1, that Henderson stood over a free-kick around 50 yards from Bournemouth’s goal. The home supporters begged him to shoot. He resisted. Two screamers were more than enough for him on this occasion.

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