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Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth player ratings: Alonso’s goal wins FA Cup clash

By Tan Yi Hao

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea in action during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea in action during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Marcus Alonso of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle at Stamford Bridge on February 05, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Marcus Alonso of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle at Stamford Bridge on February 05, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /

Marcos Alonso (Left back): 6/10

The match-winner on the day, Marcos Alonso’s performance was one that was very typical of the Spaniard throughout his time in SW6. He showed fantastic goal-scoring instinct to tuck home Kai Havertz’s low cross in the 106′ of the match. However, Alonso once again struggled badly when placed on the back foot. Defensively suspect, but brilliant going forward, Alonso remains an enigma whose in-game performances frequently swing from one extreme to the other. It remains to be seen if Chelsea’s failure to find an adequate, short-term replacement for Ben Chilwell during the January transfer window will prove costly.

Kai Havertz (Left winger): 6/10

While Havertz did provide the crucial cross from which Alonso scored to gift Chelsea the lead, the German was clearly a little rusty after an extended period without competitive football. Guilty of ceding the ball too easily at times and missing several good scoring opportunities, Havertz, much like his fellow forwards on the day, largely struggled to impose himself offensively.

Timo Werner (Centre forward): 5/10

Involved in the build-up to Chelsea’s second goal of the game, Timo Werner was otherwise rather ineffective in Plymouth’s final third. Much like Havertz, Werner likewise failed to take advantage of multiple promising attacking scenarios, most notably when he failed to even get on the end of Lukaku’s through ball in the first half of added time. The German remains a frustrating player to watch and unless he is able to somehow rediscover his goalscoring touch, time appears to be running out for Werner in SW6.

Saul (Central midfielder): 6/10

Coming on as a 97′ substitute in place of the injured Mount, Saul was solid, if unspectacular. Responsible for keeping things ticking over in midfield as Chelsea surged forward in search of a winner, Saul played his part and the Blues ultimately came out narrow 2-1 victors.

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