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Chelsea’s starting XIII: Player ratings for the starting Blues and Rams

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Davide Zappacosta of Chelsea crosses the ball which is defelcted in for Chelsea second goal of the game during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Derby County at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Davide Zappacosta of Chelsea crosses the ball which is defelcted in for Chelsea second goal of the game during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Derby County at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Frank Lampard of Derby County embraces Willian of Chelsea and Pedro of Chelsea after the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Derby County at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, right wing: 7.5

A confident Ruben Loftus-Cheek is quite a thing to watch, and four goals in two games have him quite confident. With Eden Hazard injured, Pedro resting (presumably), Callum Hudson-Odoi too young (most likely) and Victor Moses, well, somewhere else, Maurizio Sarri started Loftus-Cheek on the wing. Against Burnley this weekend Loftus-Cheek replaced Pedro on the front line, and impeccably blurred the lines between forward and attacking midfielder. Whatever Loftus-Cheek’s nominal position, he is equally skilled at both and this was likely the basis of Sarri’s decision. He started on his weaker side, though, but still pushed Derby harder than most of his teammates. Hopefully his early substitution is a sign of involvement against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Alvaro Morata, centre-forward: 6.5

Alvaro Morata spent a lot of the game dropping deep to retrieve the ball, almost as if he was taking on an Eden Hazard duty in the Belgian’s absence. This is not a bad thing for a striker to do, but it negates Morata’s most important ability which is making runs in behind the defensive line. He compounded the situation by not always coming back into the play quickly after he moved the ball on to a winger or midfielder. Morata would charge back, retrieve the ball, play it out and then we’d have to wait to see him in the box. Sometimes the play was already coming back in the other direction before he reappeared on the screen.

Willian, left-wing: 6.5

If Willian and Eden Hazard are ever both injured at the same time, Maurizio Sarri may just call the Football Association and forfeit that game. He is completely unwilling to go a day without either of them in the lineup and, as a result, he and the team may not even know how to play football without one of them.

dark. Next. More Frank Lampard and Co.: All-time best XI from London clubs

This game would have been the perfect opporunity to rest Willian in favour of Callum Hudson-Odoi or, if Sarri wanted some level of experience, Victor Moses. Instead, Willian started for the ninth consecutive game. Sarri is hellbent on learning about rotation the hard way.

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