Matchweek 2: Chelsea 0 – 2 Liverpool – Player Ratings
Ayeeee. What a weekend to be a Red!
RATINGS
Alisson – 7
Showed up with a lawn chair and a beverage. Put it up to save Jorghino’s pen and a late Abraham strike.
TAA – 7
Still not at his best but tons of big switches and balls pumped into dangerous spaces.
Fabinho – 9
Does my head in. Just steps back into the backline and has a sterling performance. Calm and collected. Handled Timo like you bang around your kid brother in a neighborhood pickup match.
Van Dijk – 7
Looks good. Smells good. Makes it looks easy when you know it’s not.
Robertson – 8
4th game on the trot where he’s looked one of our brightest going forward. Constantly overlapping, constantly legging back.
Henderson – 7
Looked much better today. Back to his usual quick recycling of possession and big switches. Drops that ball on a dime up the pitch for Sadio, giving Christiansen no choice but to choose certain goal or early shower. (Spoiler Alert*). He chose shower.
Keita – 6
Two steps forward, one step back. Half step off everything today. I don’t think he fancies playing on the right although not loads better when he swapped with Gini at the half.
Wijnaldum – 7
This was the most lively, on the ball, I’ve seen him in quite some time. (*looks intensely towards the touchline).
Mane – 10 (MOTM)
Absolutely out of his mind. Ran his legs off. Pressed everything. James will wake up in cold sweats tonight.
Salah – 8
May not have impacted the score sheet but still so, so dangerous. Lovely interplay with Firmino on the build-up for the first. His pace changes games.
Firmino – 7
If you’re judging him on his goal production, you’re doing it wrong. Tons of dummy runs and dragging defenders all over the pitch. Gem of a ball into Mane for the first.
SUBSTITUTES
Thiago- 18 (45’)
Steps off the plane and has one of the most masterful halves in the modern Prem era. Look. I know that sounds dramatic. Here are a couple of stats:
* His 75 completed passes are the most in a half since the stat has been collected (03-04).
* His 75 completed passes are more than any Chelsea player had in a full 90.
* His 10 completed long balls are more than any outfield player in the Prem this season.
* In one half of football, Thiago made more passes than Henderson, Kante & Pogba combined so far this season.
* His 89 touches were more than Auybameyang, Son Heung Min & Jeff Hendrick combined this season.
Is it okay to be excited about Thiago? Because it feels like it’s ok to be excited about Thiago, now.
Milner- 6 (‘66)
Did the Milly thing where he comes in, runs around and starts twatting people. You love to see it.
Minamino- N/A (’86)
I don’t know. Too busy high fiving anyone that would look at me, to be honest.