Jordan Henderson was a dependable presence for Chelsea in their 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, keeping his composure as team-mates struggled around him in familiar surroundings.
The 36-year-old, who made his senior debut for Sunderland against Chelsea 18 years and seven days earlier, made his 700th career appearance at the Stadium of Light. He was sensible in possession when others around him were not, keeping the ball moving with one-touch passes into feet and relieving the pressure Chelsea were under.
Full-circle afternoon in the North East
Henderson is Sunderland born and bred, making his return following illness a welcome one after Chelsea won against Manchester United without him last weekend. A midfield of Moises Caicedo plus either Romeo Lavia or Henderson or both, as deployed on Sunday, is just about the only thing functioning as it should be for Chelsea right now.
His return came as Chelsea suffered a grim result to head into the international break with, reminiscent of the 3-0 loss at Brentford ahead of the last hiatus. The defeat to the side who had begun the day at the bottom of the Premier League table gave Sunderland their first win in eight league matches.
Problems elsewhere for Alonso
Whatever is failing to give Alonso the control and dominance he has publicly called for, the problem is to be found elsewhere than where Henderson is going about his business. The visitors faltered, with a controversial penalty given against them and Cole Palmer contentiously not awarded one of his own, while Palmer and Morgan Rogers both had off-days and Levi Colwill was substituted at half-time.
Alonso won all five games against Sunderland as a Liverpool player and scored the winner in one of them, yet no such Midas touch in Chelsea colours from the technical area this time. Winning against the so-called 'big six' is important, but Premier League titles are won and European places earned by finding consistency against the Sunderlands, Hulls and Fulhams of the league.
Henderson, who spent years in Liverpool teams that could and did find that consistency, is not the problem. He actually represents what there is that's working for Chelsea.
