1. MARC CUCURELLA (7.4)
With all actual wingers injured and unavailable, interim head coach Calum McFarlane tasked Marc Cucurella with running down the left wing and the left channel. It wasn’t a complicated assignment, but it worked a treat to expose the weak right side of Liverpool’s defense, where Curtis Jones was playing as a makeshift right back.
McFarlane praised Cucurella’s “understanding” of the role, his exemplary movement, and the timing of his runs. Just too bad that the replay-framerate gods chose to frown on
him, rather than smile on him, during the video review of our second goal.
It’s not been a banner seasons for Cucu overall, especially compared to last year, but he remains one of the very few players whose commitment can never be questioned. This is his third Man of the Match of the season, all coming in the last few months.
2. LEVI COLWILL (7.3)
Colwill made his first start of the season after recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in preseason, and the level of performance he put in was quite impressive — doubly so considering the nature of ACL injuries and the often extended recovery timelines even after the initial return to action.
“He was exceptional today [and] I’m really pleased for Levi. He’s been injured for a long time. The first 90 minutes, Anfield away, when the team aren’t particularly in their best form, to go and put that level of performance in, it doesn’t only show his level of talent and quality, it shows his mentality.”
-Calum McFarlane; source: Football.London
Love to see Cobham’s own shine!
3. ENZO FERNÁNDEZ (7.2)
Solid performance from the Vice-captain, capped off by the goal, his 14th of the season in all competitions. That’s the most goals by a Chelsea central midfielder since Frank Lampard’s 17 in 2012-13.
vs. LIVERPOOL (PL, A, D 1-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Cucurella (7.4), Colwill (7.3), Enzo (7.2), João Pedro (6.9), Caicedo (6.8), Hato (6.5), James (6.5, sub)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Fofana (6.4), Palmer (6.3), Jörgensen (6.1), Santos (6.0)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Gusto (5.1)
BAD (3.5-4.4): —
TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —
OVERALL
