Chelsea player ratings: Azpilicueta,Tomori kept the door open for Batshuayi

Willian, Right wing: 7.5

Willian looked as confused as the rest of us when he was on the bench in the 70′. Of the two wingers, Willian seemed to be contributing the most to the game simply by continuing his recent run of form. Everything he has been doing in recent games he did in Amsterdam, which is what Chelsea need from him.

But things turned out well with Christian Pulisic, so no complaints in the long run.

Tammy Abraham, Striker: 7.5

For the first time all season, Tammy Abraham did not register a shot on goal. Most of Chelsea’s chances came through Callum Hudson-Odoi, which meant Abraham did not always get the service that would have enabled him to set up a shot.

Chelsea had a significant height advantage over Ajax, which made it even more confusing than against Newcastle why they did not send more aerial crosses towards Abraham. He has full command of his airspace and the Blues have players who are able to serve solid crosses. Frank Lampard does not seem to have any aversion to crosses, so it seems like opportunities left on the table.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Left wing: 7.5

How you rate Callum Hudson-Odoi’s performance is like a personality test: Do you think he did a great job because he created so many excellent chances and took so many threatening shots, even if none of them went in? Or do you dock him a few points because the only chances that matter are the ones that end up on the big board, and if Chelsea wanted a forward who couldn’t finish they would have kept Alvaro Morata?

I’m torn, so I’m giving him a down-the-middle easy-way-out rating.

Christian Pulisic, Left wing, 66′: 8

Like against Newcastle, Pulisic’s direct play late in games challenges fatiguing defences, letting him draw defenders to himself to open up space for other forwards. This reinforces what my colleague Travis said throughout the summer: long term, Pulisic is a replacement for Willian or Pedro, not Eden Hazard.

Pulisic added another assist off the bench to top off another strong substitute performance. He is doing everything Frank Lampard wants him to do, which is all he can do. Eventually it will bring him into the rotation for a place in the regular XI.

Michy Batshuayi, Striker, 71′: 8.5

Michy Batshuayi and Christian Pulisic were both sufficiently different from the Blues they replaced that they had the perfect impact as substitutes. Their link-up from their time at Borussia Dortmund has not decayed, and even if this pair deserves more they are turning into the ultimate super-sub combo.

Batshuayi looked to be following along with Chelsea’s trend of creating great chances but scuppering the end product. His shot from point blank range just landed a few minutes ago. A later shot nearly went over the bar, as well, but instead it clipped the underside of the bar and Batshuayi wheeled away so he could add Johann Cruyff Stadium to The Hawthorns and the Wanda Metropolitano to the notches on his bed post.

And then Jorginho poked his genitals, which was just weird.

Reece James, Defender, 90′: N/A

Reece James is about to become one of the fiercest proponents of a three-man defence, as it could be the best chance he has of making it into a starting XI with Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso in their current form.