New season, new signings but the same old scoring problems for Chelsea.

Five goals in five Premier League games represents their worst start at the top end of the pitch since 1996.

Their troubles last season – 38 in 38 matches – led to Kai Havertz’s departure but one of his replacements Nicolas Jackson is faring no better. The injury to Christopher Nkunku in pre-season has proved to be a significant blow.

The 22-year-old has scored once, missed six big chances and has had the sixth-most shots in the division.

Jackson started to get desperate at Bournemouth, slicing one effort from inside the box so dreadfully wide that he fell over in the process. He is also now one booking away from a suspension.

The new Chelsea ownership may have spent over £1bn on transfers since taking over last year yet they have badly overlooked the need for a proven Premier League striker.

Neville: Chelsea lack stability – it’s chaotic!

Sky Football pundit Gary Neville:

“It’s just a little bit mad. It’s chaotic. We’ve been saying it for 15 months. The number of players they have brought in, I have just seen Palmer come on, who was bought for around £40m and you think ‘there is another one’.

“With Manchester United there is a lack of stability at the top of the club, that lack of surety and there is no doubt that with Abramovich leaving and the Boehly project coming in, there is no danger as such, but there has been everything but stability. In fact it has been absolute madness in terms of every department I the club changing.

“They just need to stop. I sometimes say this in my own life, if you feel like you’re spinning around too fast, sometimes you just to need to jump off and not really do anything, and just stop and sort of let people continue and just let things slow down.

“It must be like that at the moment for Pochettino, and the players, and the fans – not knowing who is going to play from one game to the next.

“When you have that type of project, and it looks a little bit mad, and it doesn’t really look co-ordinated – I know they have signed a lot of young players on long contracts, but it does seem like it is something that I am not sure about.

“Mr Pochettino is someone I have great faith in as a coach, as I do Erik Ten Hag, I think he is a fantastic coach, so I think both clubs are going to have to let their managers just work it out over a period of time.

“For both clubs, I think it is going to take a little bit of time because there is no doubt that Chelsea are nowhere near, and United are in the same boat.”

What’s next for Chelsea?

Chelsea’s next outing is at home to Aston Villa on September 24 – kick-off 2pm. The Blues then host Brighton in the Carabao Cup on September 27 – kick-off 7.45pm.