In a pulsating 90 minutes of football, Chelsea and Bournemouth were left to rue their missed chances as they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Here’s who flopped and who rose to the top.
Marcos Alonso has picked right back up where he left off his goal-scoring, as though he hadn’t spent most of the season on the bench and last season at the suboptimal left back position, and neither season in his beloved 3-4-3. He gave Chelsea the lead and then the draw, and therefore leads our player ratings.
Willy Caballero, Goalkeeper: 6
As was the case against Bayern Munich, Willy Caballero had a great first half. He was making vital saves right from the start and played his role in maintaining Chelsea’s first half clean sheet.
Nonetheless, Chelsea’s questionable backline once again left their custodian with absolutely no chance in the second half as Jefferson Lerma and then Joshua King were allowed clear shots on goal within the six yard box. In the space of just three second half minutes, Caballero’s hardwork was left undone, and not for the first time this week.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Right centerback: 7
There have been games this season where the Chelsea captain has found himself on the wrong side of the Chelsea fanbase. However, his display against Bournemouth, starting in the fourth position he has been deployed in this season, highlights just how important he remains to the team.
His versatility aside, Azpilicueta once again dismissed talk of him being nothing more than a tough tackler, with his delightful floated crosses into the box proving more than just a nuisance to Bournemouth’s backline. Fantastic in defence and useful going forward, its safe to say that, even at 30, the Spaniard still has much to give to this Chelsea side in the near future.
Andreas Christensen, Centerback: 5
Despite putting in a strong first half performance, Christensen’s naivete at times was evident in the second half against Bournemouth. More than once, the Danish centre-half was dragged out of position when challenging for headers against the likes of Callum Wilson. This left gaps, even in a back three, for the tricky Ryan Fraser to exploit, placing further pressure on a already fragile backline.
Perhaps this rashness is in part due to a hunger to prove himself physical enough to survive in the Premier League. Nonetheless, at 23, surely the Dane has to have the basic ability to judge when and where to put his physicality on show.
Fikayo Tomori, Left centerback: 5
Having just been reinstated back into the starting XI, it is understandable that the young English defender looked somewhat rusty in the opening stages of the match. Just three minutes into the game, Tomori’s delay in clearing the ball allowed Philip Billing through on goal. Were it not for Billing’s poor finishing, Tomori would have certainly been left blushing so early into the game.
Regardless, his ability to keep pace with Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser when balls are played in over the top somewhat vindicated Lampard’s decision to start him. Overall, much like Chelsea were on the day, it was a mixed bag for the Englishman and one he will certainly work on improving.