1. MIKE PENDERS (7.1)
Mike Penders will most likely hand the keys to the Chelsea net back to Emiliano Martínez after the international break, but the young goalkeeper — now our youngest ever starting goalkeeper in the Premier League, beating Petr Čech’s record — has done quite well in this extended screen test as our first-choice between the sticks.
Obviously, he had that one ridiculous error against Spurs (not sure he could ever replicate it, even if he tried), but in the last 270 minutes, he’s been beaten only from the penalty
spot. He’s done well with his arms and his feet (he loves to punch perhaps a bit too much, if I’m looking for a criticism), and he’s earned at least one Save of the Month nomination as well — and he may yet earn another one next month, too.
2. MOISÉS CAICEDO (6.3)
I suppose if we’re looking for positives from this game … other than Penders, we can take heart from Caicedo doing some of the usual Caicedo things, then deputizing as an emergency center back after Levi Colwill was spared the embarrassment of trying to match up against Brian Brobbey for a second period.
3. ROMÉO LAVIA (6.1)
Another full-90 for Lavia, his third in a row if you’re counting. We can chalk that up under positives as well.
vs. SUNDERLAND (PL, A, L 0-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Penders (7.1)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Caicedo (6.3), Lavia (6.1), Chavarría (5.8), Estêvão (5.6, sub)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Quenda (5.4, sub), Emegha (5.1, sub), Henderson (4.9), Neto (4.8), Fofana (4.7), Gusto (4.7, sub), Palestra (4.6)
BAD (3.5-4.4): Welbeck (4.4, sub), Rogers (4.3), Palmer (4.2)
TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): Colwill (3.4)
OVERALL
