The mood at Stamford Bridge changed during Chelsea's 5-1 demolition of Bournemouth, with Xabi Alonso's tactical approach taking on a more physical edge.
Jordan Henderson, the 36-year-old veteran, stole the show with two goals, including a rare free-kick, while Moises Caicedo made his first start of the season. Together, the pair gave Chelsea's midfield a level of height and physicality that Alonso had been missing in the Premier League.
Caicedo’s return was carefully managed. The Ecuadorian suffered a calf injury in August and returned earlier than planned, something Alonso later admitted he regretted.
He lasted 72 minutes against Bournemouth before being replaced by Romeo Lavia. Despite Chelsea's convincing win, Caicedo admitted he was feeling tired, underlining the need to be cautious after such a long spell out.
Josh Acheampong's emergence has only added to the competition. The academy graduate produced 15 line-breaking passes and made four tackles against Bournemouth, further highlighting Alonso’s preference for height and physicality in central defence.
Captain Reece James has also suffered another setback, undergoing successful minor knee surgery that will rule him out of contention for the trip to Everton.
There was more positive news off the pitch, with Cole Palmer agreeing improved terms that will keep him at Chelsea until 2034. The winger has registered 91 goal contributions in 138 appearances and remains one of the main pillars of Alonso's attack.
Morgan Rogers is also enjoying a strong start to the campaign, scoring his fourth goal of the season in the win over Bournemouth.
The result moved Chelsea up to sixth in the Premier League, level on points with fourth-placed Brentford. It was a welcome response from Alonso after a frustrating three-week international break and a 3-0 defeat to Brentford that had left Chelsea tenth.