Chelsea player ratings: Blues superstars crush Burnley
Chelsea dominated the Clarets at Turf Moor behind some wonderful performances. Here is how each player rated in their match against Burnley.
Chelsea continued its hot run of form, picking up another win during the team’s six-match unbeaten run. Perhaps just as importantly, the Blues’ defense was able to keep another clean sheet—Edouard Mendy’s fifth in a row. Frank Lampard’s side neutralized the Burnley attack, outshooting the opponent 14 (9) to 5 (0). In the end, it was a dominant performance in all aspects of the game as Chelsea creeps closer to the top of the table. The 3-0 win was excellent for the team, here’s how each individual played by the numbers:
Edouard Mendy (Goalkeeper): 7
Mendy had very little to do in this match. Burnley managed to fire off five shots, none of which finding the target. In the opening moments of the game, Mendy managed to put Ashley Barnes off just enough to watch the ball fly over the net. He was left alone with the Burnley striker and did well in the one-on-one. Other than that, he was hardly tested. When a shot flew his way, the Senegalese sensation positioned himself well. Nothing spectacular from Chelsea’s new keeper, but many will prefer it remain that way.
Reece James (Right back): 8
Of the returning Chelsea faces, there has been no better player this season than Reece James. The young fullback has earned his minutes and the opportunity to play ahead of Cesar Azpilicueta—and to start over the skipper, you have to be superb. James once again put on a clinic, this time against Burnley. His defending was rock solid and passing accurate as ever, even in the extreme winds of England’s northern region. The 20-year-old would have been the standout defender if it wasn’t for the sensational play of Thiago Silva.
Kurt Zouma (Centerback): 7.5
Kurt Zouma started the game poorly as he was caught sleeping while Barnes ran in behind for a clear shot on goal. Luckily, he was bailed out by his keeper—that may not always be the case though. Zouma’s poor run of form continued with a couple of other shaky moments, but a huge second half performance boosted his rating. A third goal of the Premier League campaign didn’t do him any harm either.
Thiago Silva (Centerback): 8.5
Many Chelsea fans were skeptical about the signing of Silva, but what a player he’s been thus far. His mistake against West Brom notwithstanding, the Brazilian veteran has been flawless for the Blues. The 36-year-old brings a whole other threat to the side with the pin-point accuracy of his passes and adept positioning. Silva was excellent in the air against the set piece threat of Burnley, as well.
Ben Chilwell (Left back): 6
Ben Chilwell was one of the worst performers for the Blues on the day. However, in a performance that brought out the best in the side, even the poor performers played quite well. The left back’s crosses never seemed to find their targets—likely due to the high winds around Turf Moor—so he found other ways to get involved. Overall, Chilwell could use a rest midweek, which is the biggest takeaway from his outing .