Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports feature where Nick Wright blends statistics and personal insight to highlight the Premier League stories you need to know. This edition covers: - The Palmer‑Rogers partnership dissected - Scott’s standout performances for Bournemouth - A look at Crystal Palace’s aggressive tackler Morgan Rogers was visibly surprised when he learned that Cole Palmer had been named man of the match after Chelsea’s victory over Leeds. "I got four assists," Rogers joked, pleading for recognition.

Palmer, grinning, replied, "You should have had it," before adding, "Don’t mention me – I’m just a spectator," and Rogers capped the banter with, "I’m just a bystander." The light‑hearted exchange, caught on Sky Sports cameras before their post‑match interview, showcases the rapport between the two players. That chemistry is evident on the pitch as well. Do they feel like lifelong teammates? "We pretty much have," Rogers answered.

Both men grew up together in England’s youth set‑ups and later at Manchester City’s academy, forging a close friendship that has resurfaced at Chelsea. Since joining the Blues, they have been a constant source of trouble for opponents, combining for eleven goals and assists in just five league fixtures.

So far, only Arsenal have managed to keep their output relatively muted. Their halftime pep talk sparked Chelsea’s comeback on Wednesday. After Rogers ingeniously flicked the ball off his backside to set up Palmer’s equaliser, the duo were again involved in the build‑up to Chelsea’s third and sixth goals.

Those link‑up plays have become a recurring theme. In Chelsea’s first five matches, Rogers has completed almost twice as many passes to Palmer – nineteen in total – as any other teammate, while only defender Josh Acheampong has received more passes from Palmer, with fifteen. Surprisingly, they have directly combined for just one goal, but the potential for more is clear.

In the 4‑3 win over Brighton, they alternated creating chances for each other, only to be denied by last‑minute blocks. In the season opener against Fulham, Rogers fashioned three shooting opportunities for Palmer, who was unable to finish.

Overall, the pair have generated nine chances for one another – more than double the tally of any other partnership in the Premier League. They sit ahead of five other duos, including Palmer with Joao Pedro and Antoine Semenyo with Erling Haaland, who have each produced four.

While many expected Palmer to be the primary creator for Rogers, the trend has been the opposite so far. Palmer ended last season with a modest return of one goal in thirteen appearances, but this term he has already netted four in five games, a surge partly attributable to his new teammate’s support.

Rogers explained their mutual approach after his arrival: "We bring different qualities, different styles, and different ways of influencing a match. Ultimately it’s about scoring, creating and linking play. We can achieve that in our own ways." The contrast in their play is evident in how they feed each other. Rogers often looks to thread Palmer into the space between the opposition’s defensive line and midfield, exploiting the gaps that appear when the back four is pressed.

Conversely, Palmer tries to find Rogers with passes that target his runs behind the defense, taking advantage of Rogers’ speed and timing. Xabi Alonso’s system further enhances their partnership. The wing‑backs provide width, allowing Rogers and Palmer to drift inside and operate in close proximity. This central positioning creates abundant opportunities for quick one‑two passes and intricate combinations.

Because of their central interplay, Chelsea now directs a higher proportion of attacks through the middle third of the pitch than any other Premier League side. Their next test comes against Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a match that could put an end to Hull’s impressive run of three consecutive clean sheets. Chelsea’s offensive upgrade with Rogers has been clear, but their midfield reinforcements have not delivered the same impact. One summer departure, a player who slipped away, has flourished at Bournemouth, reminding Chelsea of missed opportunities.

Alex Scott has been praised by both Andoni Iraola and Marco Rose. After a 2‑2 draw with Newcastle, Rose declared, "I love him," noting Scott’s influence in a game where Chelsea surrendered a late lead for the third consecutive match – a pattern that has frustrated fans. The 23‑year‑old, who scored Bournemouth’s opener against Everton in the previous week, was the standout at St James’ Park.

He contributed to both Bournemouth goals, recorded the most touches, delivered the highest number of final‑third passes, and won more duels than any of his teammates. His performances underline a strong start to the season. Scott blends physical power with technical skill, constantly shuttling between the penalty areas, covering ground, and taking on greater responsibility. If he maintains this trajectory, clubs that pursued him in the summer are likely to return with offers in the January window.

For now, Bournemouth will hope he continues his form when they face Brentford at the Vitality Stadium. Anan Khalaili has big shoes to fill at Crystal Palace after replacing Daniel Munoz as right wing‑back. He demonstrated his attacking instincts with a decisive run that set up Ben Chilwell’s winner against Fulham last weekend. Defensively, Khalaili has been busy.

While he has had a few awkward moments, he thrives in one‑on‑one battles, often emerging victorious. He currently ranks second in the league for duels won and leads in tackles, with 17 successful challenges – five more than any other player – despite only starting twice.

Igor Thiago, Brentford’s striker, faces Bournemouth on Saturday looking to open his account. He has accumulated an expected‑goals tally of 2.30 without finding the net in the opening three games, the highest xG of any player yet to score. It may be time for his fortunes to change.

Sky Sports will broadcast four Premier League games this weekend, beginning with Tottenham versus Everton on Saturday evening. Sunday’s lineup features Coventry hosting Brighton at 2 pm, followed by the Manchester derby as United take on City at 4.30 pm. The weekend’s coverage wraps up with Monday Night Football, where Leeds host Newcastle at 8 pm, with the broadcast starting at 6.30 pm. The previous column focused on Arsenal’s increasingly solid defence ahead of their clash with Morgan Rogers and Chelsea.

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