Chelsea player ratings: Youth lead, but only Billy Gilmour ready for the jump

Chelsea started the game with four academy graduates on the pitch and finished with two more, leaving another four unused on the bench. All set themselves up for many more first-team minutes this season, but Billy Gilmour should be first in line.

A large portion of Chelsea’s squad needed a day off. Another large portion needed some minutes. Frank Lampard gave everybody what they needed, and they returned the favours and the trust by way of a 7-1 win over Grimsby Town to open the Carabao Cup campaign.

Willy Caballero, 13, Goalkeeper: 6

The struggle to keep a clean sheet this season is not limited to Kepa Arrizabalaga. A combination of Chelsea’s centrebacks playing an extremely high back line; them getting confused in the execution of the high line while battling for a header off a long ball from the Grimsby goalkeeper; more confusion amongst the full-backs, who ended up just behind and wide of the centrebacks; Caballero being way off his line; and the magic of the Carabao Cup resulted in Matt Green’s golazo to chill the Blues’ early spirits by closing the score to 2-1. Grimsby Town’s other shots did not require much from Caballero, nor did his teammates need him much as a passing option.

Reece James, 24, Right back: 8.5

James looked a bit rusty tactically and in his fitness, but he still went 90 minutes, assisted on one goal and scored another in his Chelsea first-team debut. That says as much about James’ ceiling as it does the opponent.

James’ physical play complements his understanding of the game so he can perfectly time his involvements on both sides of the ball. He did not have to make many difficult decisions about when to push up and when to stay deep to defend against Grimsby, so this game allowed him to ease into the full range of his future responsibilities without being caught on either side. He should start making his way into the first-team squad, but Lampard should give him more training time and substitutions before starting him in the Premier League or Champions League.

Kurt Zouma, 15, Centreback: 7.5

Zouma had to move high up the pitch to see much action, which he had no problem doing and scored the Blues’ fourth goal as a result.

He is a strong dribbler like his usual partner Fikayo Tomori, which make them valuable assets as Chelsea look for more ways to move the ball upfield and then contain possession in the final third. However, this will require full-backs willing to drop back and cover the centre-backs in defence. Marcos Alonso would rather stay up, as might Reece James, so Frank Lampard will have to choose and instruct his defensive unit carefully.

Marc Guehi, 44, Centreback: 7

Of the first-team debutants, Marc Guehi looked the most like someone appearing at this level for the first time. Particularly in the first half he was not always certain with the ball at his feet about whether to dribble or pass, and if so, where to. Part of this may have been because he had Billy Gilmour in front of him in midfield, and it was a bit too much novelty.

By the second half, though, this game was old hat for Guehi. Given the Blues’ depth at centreback he may have to wait the longest for an appearance outside of the domestic cups, but those will provide enough opportunities for him to develop and stake his claims for the future.

Marcos Alonso, 3, Left back: 6.5

Alonso had a quiet night, with Chelsea bringing the play forward on the right even more than usual. This game could best be described as active recovery for Alonso, which he will surely need with Emerson out for a few more weeks and Ian Maatsen very impressive but not ready for the major competitions just yet.