CHELSEA moved to the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win against Leeds on Saturday.
Goals from Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma and Christian Pulisic saw the Blues fight back from an early Leeds opener at Stamford Bridge.
N’Golo Kante starred as Chelsea beat Leeds 3-1Credit: AFP
But who was Chelsea’s best player? And did anyone have a game to forget?
Here are Simon Phillips’ Chelsea player ratings for tonight…
Edouard Mendy – 6
He over committed for the opening goal from Leeds and should have done a lot better, but the rest of his game was decent and he kept his composure to help his team get the three points.
Reece James – 8
Another quality game for the Blues academy graduate on his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions.
James put himself about and was one of the tougher lads in blue tonight.
Thiago Silva – 8
Could have helped communicate with Zouma a bit more on Leeds opening goal, but apart from that Silva was absolutely class once again.
He used his experience and brilliant technical ability to keep Chelsea’s defence as tidy as possible.
Kurt Zouma scored as he put in a strong defensive performanceCredit: AP:Associated Press
Kurt Zouma – 7
Partially to blame for the Leeds opener with a lack of communication, but just as with Silva, Zouma got a lot better as the game went on and put in another decent shift.
He scored what is becoming a trade mark header from a corner for Chelsea’s second!
Ben Chilwell – 8
Chilwell was rapid tonight; he was everywhere and really played with a calm confidence whenever he got the ball.
N’Golo Kante – 9
Kante was his usual quality in front of the back four and just makes the game look so easy.
He made some important interceptions and was a good asset driving forward beating players from deep. Man of the Match.
Kai Havertz struggled on the right of a three-man midfieldCredit: EPA
Mason Mount – 7
Mount struggled to find his usual rhythm at the start of the game and missed a few passes, but he soon grew into it and become a nuisance to deal with for the Leeds defence.
It was his perfect corner that Zouma got his goal from.
Kai Havertz – 5
Havertz couldn’t really find his touch for the majority of the game, but he did begin to look a lot more comfortable in the second half, almost as if Frank Lampard had a quiet word with him at half time.
But he will certainly play better games for Chelsea than he did tonight and was removed in the second half.
Olivier Giroud continued to prove his worth up topCredit: AP:Associated Press
Timo Werner – 6
Missed a bizarre chance in the first half when it looked like he cleared a Chelsea goal bound effort off the line, and he suffered a similar fate to his German counterpart Havertz.
But Werner also stepped up his game in the second half and became a nuisance driving at the Leeds defence.
He’s just missing too many chances right now.
Hakim Ziyech – 6
Unfortunately, he only lasted less than 30 minutes and came off injured.
He had a few good touch and moments in his time on the pitch, and let’s hope Ziyech’s injury is not serious.
Olivier Giroud – 7
He was in the right place at the right time to convert a Reece James cross to get Chelsea back in the game in the first half, and generally put himself about well.
His touches and link up play was very good even though he should have scored more.
Sub Christian Pulisic wrapped up the win with a late strikeCredit: Reuters
SUBS
Christian Pulisic for Ziyech (29 mins) – 7
Ziyech got an unfortunate early injury.
Pulisic was very lively and looked to make things happen every time he got the ball.
He’s looking like a man just starting to find his touch again after his injury.
Mateo Kovacic for Havertz (66 mins) – 7
Came on and put in a great shift, very comfortable gliding through the Chelsea midfield.
Tammy Abraham for Giroud (78 mins) – N/A
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
