Chelsea midfield and forward ratings: Goal caps Mateo Kovacic’s night

Willian, Right wing: 6.5

After Reece James, Willian had the most crosses (8). Other than Kovacic and Christian Pulisic, Willian had the most dribbles. He was one of three Blues with two key passes. He spent the game switching sides of the pitch to help Chelsea create overloads or to support different teammates. Like Kante, he took up some of the slack for making runs between the lines.

He only had one shot on goal, which was a header from point blank range that he put over the net. It was a glaring, costly error, and gave his many detractors all they needed to see for the remainder of the game. But everything he did after that was a typical Willian performance, which his detractors would probably agree with but most people recognize makes him as essential as anybody to this side.

Tammy Abraham, Striker: 6

Tammy Abraham prompted the save of the night from Jasper Ciliessen, who somehow put his literal fingertips to the ball to deflect Abraham’s shot over the bar. That was one of Abraham’s three shots before coming off with injury just before the half.

Abraham’s importance – like Mason Mount’s – is underscored by his absence as much as his presence. Chelsea did not have the creativity and target presence that Abraham provides in the second half.

Christian Pulisic, Left wing: 7

Christian Pulisic nearly went down in history as the man who assisted Mateo Kovacic’s second goal in a single game. Pulisic went on a 30-yard runs, attracting defenders to him as quickly and as readily as he dribbled past them. Each Valencia player who approached him seemingly made him even more deft on the ball, and he finished the move by laying off a pass to Kovacic on the left, who blasted a shot at Cilessen.

Pulisic was in the right spot and responded perfectly to poke Kurt Zouma’s headed ball into the net for the go-ahead goal. He has now created 12 goals in all competitions, second only to Abraham and almost double that of any other Blue.