Chelsea scored 16 goals in their first six games of the season, but they’ve scored just four times in their next four and their shock 1-0 defeat at Sunderland saw the baffling theme of a lack of creativity and cutting edge continue.

After the game Xabi Alonso looked bemused and annoyed when explaining why Chelsea were so lackluster in attack.

He didn’t hold back when criticizing Chelsea’s creativity.

“We were not creating enough chances in the final third against the low block,” Alonso told the BBC. “We were not moving the ball quickly, we were not controlling, sustaining the attack there. Those situations you need to be patient, especially at half time we have spoken, there were many interruptions but in those type of games we need to be more patient.”

What are the main problems for Chelsea in attack?

Aside from one half against Manchester United last weekend, who basically gave them the game and imploded, Chelsea haven’t looked threatening in attack since Joao Pedro was injured.

The Brazilian center forward is Chelsea’s leading goalscorer but was injured in training before they lost to Spurs two weeks ago.

It’s not as simple as saying that Chelsea’s attack has faltered since Joao Pedro went down injured. But it has certainly been a key factor and players not stepping up in his absence, plus Alonso’s bizarre selection decisions in place of Joao Pedro, has been crucial to their attack faltering.

The usually calm and composed Alonso then continued to explain why he was so frustrated on the sidelines during the loss at Sunderland.

“We were missing a little bit of speed on the ball, a little bit of patience,” Alonso told Sky Sports.” Playing against a low block we didn’t create enough chances. We didn’t have enough patience and creativity to create chances. That is why we were not close to scoring.”

The problems are plentiful for Chelsea’s previously slick attack.

Palmer’s lack of confidence and bizarre selections compounding Joao Pedro’s absence

Cole Palmer is struggling for confidence and not being selected for most recent England squad, again, underlines that. Palmer and Morgan Rogers haven’t had Joao Pedro to combine with and run beyond and everything has fallen apart in the final third.

And Alonso’s decision to use the likes of Rogers, Pedro Neto and Geovany Quenda in unfamiliar central roles, instead of veteran striker Welbeck to limit the impact on the overall attacking fluidity of the team, is a baffling one.

There are also key defenders such as Maxence Lacroix, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato and Reece James out injured, and that is key given the way Alonso wants to play. He needs his defenders to get the ball into the feet of Palmer and Rogers in the No. 10 roles quickly.

That hasn’t happened enough in recent games and leaves the playmakers isolated and Chelsea unable to sustain attacks because they aren’t getting the ball forward quickly enough.

They had 69 percent of the ball against Sunderland but created just 0.53 expected goals. They only had four shots on target and apart from a few crosses into the box they never really threatened from open play. Given the quality of attacking players they have, that is alarming.

What are the answers to unlocking Chelsea’s attack?

In short: hope that Joao Pedro returns soon. Very soon.

But it’s not that simple. Alonso has gone away from the trident which spearheaded Chelsea’s magnificent start to the season.

His move to a flat back four from a back three has given them a little more defensive solidity, and he went even further with it against Sunderland as three holding midfielders in Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Jordan Henderson were selected to play together.

But the handbrake needs to come off.

Alonso and Chelsea were criticized for their haphazard defending early in the season in crazy 4-3 and 3-2 wins, but they were winning games and creating lots of chances.

The dial has to be turned back to attack and more risks need to be taken. Do Chelsea really need two (or three) holding midfielders in front of a flat back four of defensive defenders away at Sunderland? No.

Chelsea aren’t able to sustain attacks because they aren’t getting enough players forward. That is Alonso with his selections and there is a real sense that he has overcomplicated things unnecessarily since Joao Pedro was injured.

It’s still early in Alonso’s reign as Chelsea boss but he needs to trust his instincts more and go back to what worked so well in attack early in the season. It’s time for Alonso to be brave, like he was back in August and September, and embrace the chaos. Chelsea’s players are much more suited to that and Alonso has to go back to basics and be braver with his selections and formation.