Thirty-six years old, one home game in a Chelsea shirt, and already a match-winner. Jordan Henderson found the net two times and provided an assist on Saturday as Chelsea swept Bournemouth aside 5-1 at Stamford Bridge, climbing to fifth in the Premier League.
The visitors barely had time to settle. Just over a minute in, Cole Palmer drifted into the box and cut the ball back, and Henderson curled a first-time finish in off the post. Moments later Henderson fed Morgan Rogers, whose effort took a touch off António Silva and nestled in the far corner. The clock read 2:29; never before had the Blues gone two up so quickly in a Premier League game.
Emiliano Martínez kept Bournemouth out before the break, and the hosts struck again almost as soon as play resumed. Silva’s sloppy clearance let Pedro Neto in, and João Pedro, back from injury, smashed home the third. Evanilson gave the visitors brief hope from a corner, diverting Moisés Caicedo’s attempted clearance past his own keeper, but Pep Chavarria’s low cross soon gave João Pedro a simple tap-in for his second.
The finale belonged to Henderson. With the crowd expecting Palmer to take a free-kick, the veteran stepped up instead and bent it beyond Djordje Petrovic. Alonso said afterwards that the midfielder was brought in for far more than goals, praising his energy and the way he keeps offering teammates options.
The win was the response Chelsea needed after that painful loss away to Brentford just before the international pause, although Alonso will note a 22nd straight league game without a clean sheet, and captain Reece James missed out after hurting his knee in training. Palmer, freshly tied down until 2034 after signing a new deal that morning, moved freely and looked dangerous. For Bournemouth and new boss Marco Rose, six games without a win is becoming a serious worry.
