Chelsea 1-0 Al Hilal player ratings: Romelu Lukaku’s goal the winner

Hakim Ziyech (Right winger): 8.5/10

Hakim Ziyech continued his brilliant run of form on Wednesday with another Man of the Match worthy performance. He ran the show once again on the right wing, despite the Blues reverting back to a 3-4-3. The 4-1-4-1’s introduction has seen him ascend to another level in recent weeks as an extra body in attack allows him some freedom. However, the three-at-the-back experiment against Al Hilal just goes to show how important consistent minutes and a bit of confidence are to the Moroccan. Ziyech has the opportunity to be one of the team’s most important players down the stretch. If he continues to build chemistry with those around him, the sky is the limit.

Romelu Lukaku (Striker): 7/10

Lukaku frustrated fans from the off. To be fair to the Belgian, those supporters were likely moaning about his inclusion in the team to begin with, so their minds were already made up. His game was sloppy in the opening 30 minutes as he failed to dominate the Al Hilal defense. Something many expected him to do with ease. Lukaku missed a tap in or two and he took up the wrong position in the box on numerous occasions.

Things changed when he finally found the back of the net though.

Following his 32′ goal—one in which he is expected to score 10 times out of 10—Lukaku looked like a completely different player. He seemed to be a changed man who was free of his shackles in the final third. The Blues’ talisman became more involved in the build-up and he moved more freely around the pitch. Perhaps the most impressive contribution of his on Wednesday though was his link-up play with Ziyech. The two had been seen feuding a few matches ago (one of the many incidents supporters made into an unnecessarily large scene), but they were unselfishly playing together against Al Hilal. The duo looks to have caught Tuchel’s eye, so it’s going to be important that they develop a greater understanding for one another as the season progresses.

Kai Havertz (Left winger): 7/10

Havertz looked a bit rusty to start the game. He seemed afraid to take defenders on or take any risks at all with the ball at his feet. This is understandable as the German hasn’t gotten many minutes throughout the season. Havertz, like Lukaku, did grow into the game as it went on. His brilliant run to start the second half would’ve instantly become a goal of the season contender if he’d beaten the keeper. There is also something intriguing about his relationship with Lukaku. Four of the Belgian’s nine goals this season have come when Havertz is on the pitch and there is certainly something to be said for that going forward.