The Final Third #1: Alonso Chaos, Isak’s Return & Millwall Flying

Football Weekend Briefing

Welcome to The Final Third. Midnite's weekly briefing on the stories, shifts and fixtures that matter most

TL;DR

• Xabi Alonso's Chelsea reign kicked off with a chaotic 3-2 away win at Fulham, proving familiar defensive habits die hard.
• Millwall are setting the early Championship pace. Top of the table, six points, and zero goals conceded across their opening two fixtures.
• Alexander Isak endured a miserable St James' Park return as his new Liverpool side were held to a 2-2 draw by Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle United.
• Brighton & Hove Albion head to Stamford Bridge this weekend fresh from a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa on opening day.

What Mattered This Week

Alonso's Chelsea provide early entertainment

Xabi Alonso's Premier League arrival brought immediate chaos with a 3-2 victory over Fulham. While it's only one match into the new campaign, early signs suggest Chelsea are going to be a brilliant, completely flawed watch this season. Cole Palmer was heavily involved in all three goals at Craven Cottage, showing the kind of final-third threat Alonso can build a system around.

But the victory also highlighted those familiar vulnerabilities. Chelsea shipped two goals against a Fulham side generating 1.76 expected goals, throwing the spotlight straight back onto goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. Off the pitch, Alonso is already having to put fires out, insisting midfielder Enzo Fernández remains in his immediate plans despite serious noise about a £100m bid from Manchester City.

Isak struggles on Tyneside return

The opening weekend's headline act saw Alexander Isak back at St James' Park following his massive £125m move to Liverpool. The occasion seemed to get to the Swedish forward, who struggled to make a dent during a tense 2-2 draw. Despite Liverpool racking up 2.66 xG to Newcastle's 1.29, they couldn't turn the stats into three points, leaving both clubs on a single point after matchday one.

For Newcastle United, the result was a massive early tick for new head coach Matthias Jaissle. Stepping into Eddie Howe's shoes, Jaissle immediately quietened the doubters by taking a point off strong opposition, then backed it up with a midweek Carabao Cup win over West Bromwich Albion. Throw in the arrival of £52m midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City, and the mood on Tyneside has quickly flipped from transitional anxiety to cautious optimism.

Millwall set the early Championship pace

Two matches is a tiny sample size, but Millwall's flawless start to the Championship is hard to ignore. Sitting top of the table with a maximum six points, they've scored five without reply, including a very tidy 3-0 win over Norwich City this week.

Their underlying numbers point to a rock-solid early structure. They completely shut down Norwich, restricting them to just 0.83 xG while creating 2.08 themselves. It's obviously too early to frame the league table, but a perfect defensive record and a +5 goal difference is exactly how you lay the foundation for a promotion push.

What To Watch This Weekend

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton & Hove Albion sit at the summit of the Premier League after matchday one, courtesy of a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa. They head to Stamford Bridge having completely dismantled their opening opponents, showing a perfect blend of attacking punch and defensive grit.

Chelsea's 3-2 win against Fulham proved they have the firepower for a shootout, but their defensive setup faces a much sterner test here. If Alonso's side leave the same massive gaps they offered at Craven Cottage, a confident Brighton attack will punish them. With both teams taking maximum points on opening weekend, this is a proper early benchmark.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur face an immediate pressure test in front of their home fans. An opening-day 3-0 defeat to Brentford leaves them sitting 19th in the incredibly early table, failing to register a single goal while shipping three. While they found some relief with a midweek Carabao Cup win over Charlton Athletic, they desperately need a result in the league before the familiar anxiety sets in.

They host a Newcastle United side carrying the momentum of that 2-2 draw with Liverpool and a cup victory of their own. Matthias Jaissle's tactical setup proved seriously difficult for Liverpool to break down. Spurs will have to find the attacking fluency that was entirely missing against Brentford if they want their first league points of the campaign.

Southampton vs Millwall

The Championship's early pacesetters face a tricky trip to St Mary's. Millwall take their perfect defensive record and 100% win rate down to the south coast, looking to prove they belong at the top of the table. Managing two consecutive clean sheets while looking potent up top makes them a serious problem.

Southampton, currently sitting 10th with three points, will view this as a chance to derail the Millwall hype. Saints recovered from a mixed opening to comfortably beat Stoke City 3-1 this week, racking up 1.75 xG in the process. It's an emerging Southampton attack against a Millwall backline that refuses to buckle.

Closing Thought

We know it's far too early to draw permanent conclusions from a single week of football, but the pressure points are already showing. Xabi Alonso and Matthias Jaissle have given us immediate talking points, and massive fees like Alexander Isak's switch to Liverpool are already under the microscope. This weekend's fixtures will quickly separate the clubs building real momentum from those staring down a tense opening month.