Estevao's Return Gives Strikerless Chelsea Its Spark

Chelsea's attack looked different once Estevao Willian was back on the pitch, and it was Morgan Rogers who turned the balance of the game in the home side's favour.

Chelsea have been operating without a recognised striker, which means the goals and chances have to come from wide areas and from players arriving between the lines. Estevao gave the side exactly what it had been missing. He picked up the ball in dangerous areas, took on defenders, and kept the opposition scrambling whenever he was involved. It was a performance that raised an obvious question: why has a player with this kind of quality been used so sparingly?

That question is harder to answer. Under Xabi Alonso, Estevao's involvement this season has been limited, and there has been no clear explanation of how his role is meant to develop. Squad depth, tactical preferences and fitness could all play a part, but a player who can change a game the way he did is difficult to keep on the fringes for long. Supporters will want to see a clearer picture of his place in the side from here.

Rogers provided the decisive moment. In a line-up without a central striker, the responsibility for creating and taking chances falls on the players who come into the attacking zone from deeper positions, and Rogers was the one who made the difference when it mattered most.

The result offers Chelsea a useful reminder. The attacking options are there, and when they are used well, the team looks far more dangerous. The next step is to turn a single strong display into a consistent role.