Chelsea player ratings in dismal defeat to Liverpool
Chelsea deserved nothing better than a 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool, with the side looking listless and disorganized. Were there any bright spots among the men in Blue?
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: A dejected looking Diego Costa of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Chelsea failed to earn any points for the first time under Antonio Conte. Two well-taken Liverpool goals were sufficient to give the visitors the win, as Diego Costa took advantage of Chelsea’s only scoring opportunity to give the Blues a blip of hope.
The player ratings this week continue the downward trend that started with the draw at Swansea City. Antonio Conte better figure things out soon, because we don’t want to get
used to 3’s and 4’s in our grade books.
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
GK, Belgium
6There wasn’t much Thibaut Courtois could have done to stop either goal. His defenders hung him out to dry on the opener, and Jordan Henderson’s screamer was a 1-in-a-100 (generously) strike. Courtois still does not look like the rock Chelsea needs. Within the first five minutes he induced a collective gasp around Stamford Bridge as he bobbled an easy ball. The ball ended up behind him, just a few feet from goal. Fortunately no Reds were in sight, but it foretold another less-than-commanding performance.Next: Defence
Defence
Branislav Ivanovic
RB, Serbia
3Ivanovic’s defensive performance earned him a 4, and we’ll dock another point because he played that poorly while wearing the captain’s armband. As the captain and leader, Ivanovic spread his lack of awareness and disorganization to the entire backline. Three Liverpool players were completely unmarked on the opening goal, and another was only barely covered. Ivanovic did not organize his line well as a captain, nor did he maintain awareness of the opposition. A dismal performance that will reinforce calls for the end of his Chelsea career.
Gary Cahill
CB, England
4Same as Ivanovic, but gets to a keep a point because he did not have the armband. As a centre-back with strong aerial skills, he has even more responsibility for allowing the first goal than Ivanovic. He followed that up with a poor clearance that ended up as Jordan Henderson’s goal from distance. He showed appallingly poor judgment and equally poor execution with his passes in the defensive zone. Several square passes to Courtois and his fellow defenders were weak and within inches of being intercepted in the box. Cahill made a wonderful case for Kurt Zouma’s inclusion in the squad as early as possible.
David Luiz
CB, Brazil
5David Luiz’s detractors and fans would magnify all out of proportion anything Luiz did, so the Brazilian took a third way: not much of anything at all. He didn’t get caught woefully out of position, but he also didn’t play the ball out from deep. He didn’t make any ill-advised moves towards the offensive third, but he also didn’t shut down his defensive third. He wore the #30 jersey and got a bloody nose. That was about it for his second debut.
Cesar Azpilicueta
LB, Spain
5.5Liverpool scored their first goal off of Cesar Azpilicueta’s left side, and the Spaniard was one of Chelsea’s many defenders caught unaware and out of place. Several times in the first half he spent extended spells further forward than N’Golo Kante, let alone the other defenders. He not only moved forward on the overlap but came inside as well. His offensive tendencies continue to be encouraging, but had little place in a game where the defense was so deficient.Next: Midfield
Midfield
N'Golo Kante
CDM, France
6N’Golo Kante had his usual movement and positioning, but none of the tenacity and bite that normally goes with it. He covered the pitch well, but was not the harassing and dispossessing presence from Chelsea’s earlier games. Worse, Kante seems to have developed the notion that he can shoot. He can not. Unless he comes on at half-time to kick souvenir balls to the people sitting up in the cheap seats, Antonio Conte should ban him from ever shooting again.
Nemanja Matic
CM, Serbia
5.5A lot of last year’s Nemanja Matic. Everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He did an excellent job taking the ball deep and then cutting it back to Diego Costa for Chelsea’s only goal. A highly uncharacteristic play that paid off, but did not compensate for his weak performance in his actual job. Kante and Oscar can control the midfield better than Matic can. Time for the Serb to make way for Cesc Fabregas’s return so Chelsea can serve the ball to Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
Oscar
CM, Brazil
5After several weeks of praising Oscar’s two-way play and tactical astuteness, we regret to inform you that he has relapsed to his former self. The lost puppy dog wandering, the dejected puppy dog demeanor … it’s all back. He and Antonio Conte know what he is capable of when he plays in his natural position, so this could be an aberration in an otherwise strong progression.Next: Attack
Attack
Eden Hazard
W, Belgium
6Eden Hazard vs. Nathaniel Clyne was one of the key matchups going into last night’s game. Clyne got the better of it by far, giving Hazard enough space to start a take-on before shutting down the Belgian’s passing, shooting and movement lanes. Hazard is still hesitant to get into position and fire. He will never be able to impose his will on a game – which he has the ability to do – until he shows the desire and initiative to do so.
Willian
W, Brazil
7Willian was Chelsea’s most consistent player on the pitch last season, and he was again last night. That’s all the worst kinds of deja vu. Even in the doldrums of 2015/16 Willian still seemed to be enjoying himself and relishing the opportunity to play for the Blue. Last night he was marginally better than his teammates, but he didn’t have the spark and charisma of last year. Troublesome.
Diego Costa
ST, Spain
6.5It’s difficult to grade Diego Costa’s performance because his teammates gave him so little to do. Costa was lonely, isolated and increasingly frustrated as his teammates failed time and again to provide him service in the box. The one time they did, he converted expertly by taking position and banging in the only goal. Costa is only as good as what his teammates serve him, so he never had the chance to rate much last night.Next: Substitutes
Substitutes
Cesc Fabregas
CM, Spain
7Normally we don’t grade substitutes that are on for fewer than 10 minutes, but we’re going to grade Fabregas simply to make a point. In the short time he was on Fabregas showed what he could have offered if Conte had introduced him earlier in the game, when there was still time to make a difference. Fabregas found new passing angles, opened up play with diagonal and straight-ahead distribution and gave Chelsea a threat of offense. Yes, he completely wasted the free kick from 20 yards, but he showed why the Blues need a playmaker and not a Matic.
Victor Moses
W, Nigeria
N/AVictor Moses opened up the right side well after replacing Willian. He varied his positioning better than Willian did, shifting between the touchline and the box to keep Liverpool’s defenders unsure of his next move. A decent performance that should have started 20 minutes earlier.
Pedro
W, Spain
N/A“You know what would really help us overcome this late deficit at home to Liverpool? Pedro!” Said no one ever, until Antonio Conte. There are a lot of things we don’t understand about Conte’s substitution policy. This is one of them, but way down the list.Next: Manager
Manager
Antonio Conte
Manager, Italy
6A triple substitution in the 84th minute after having been down 2-0 in the half. And then Pedro, but not Michy Batshuayi. We’re really struggling here. If Conte sends out the same XI in a 4-1-4-1 against Leicester City on Tuesday, we’re really going to wonder if we misjudged this hiring.
Too harsh? Too generous? Let us know your ratings in the comments below!
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