The pressure on Steven Gerrard piles on as Chelsea went on to beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park. The first half started in the worst way possible for the home side as an error from Tyrone Mings cost them a goal which was scored by Mason Mount in the 6th minute. But after that, Villa were on top and should have scored at least one themselves, if not more. Kepa Arrizabalaga made a number of top saves on regular intervals to keep the Blues ahead in the game.
Two substitutions at halftime indicated how bad CFC were in the first half; the second half was pretty much the same too. But regular substitutions from Graham Potter kept improving the team, and in the 65th minute Mount doubled Chelsea’s lead from a free-kick just outside of the Villa box. From that point on, the home outfit looked dull and the game finished 2-0. Here’s how each man fared in an average performance against the Villans:
1. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Goalkeeper): 9/10
Made a string of good saves to keep Villa from equalizing one of which was from Danny Ings point blank range header. Kepa kept CFC in the game. Early in the second half too, Kepa was kept busy but after multiple substitutions and Chelsea’s second goal, the night became a bit more easier for Kepa.
2. Trevoh Chalobah (Centerback): 7/10
Trevoh Chalobah was one of the better Blues defenders today. Early on Chalobah was a bit sloppy with the ball and Aston Villa did make a few runs in behind but as the game went on, the English defender settled down in the game and put in some vital interceptions and won headers to keep Chelsea from conceding.
3. Thiago Silva (Centerback): 6/10
With the team under pressure from Villa very early on, Silva did well to rally the defence even though the veteran got caught a few times. But his abundant experience and calmness on the ball definitely helped the team.
4. Marc Cucurella (Centerback): 3/10
Continuously getting caught off position, putting the defence under extra pressure. Having issues defending against Leon Baily, who got the better of him on multiple occasions. Throughout the first half, Cucurella looked second best in everything and was replaced by Kalidou Koulibaly at half time.
5. Raheem Sterling (Right Wingback): 7/10
Playing on the right wingback position due to the absence of Reece James, Sterling looked out of place and was barely involved in the attacking play. But when he got involved in one instance, the England international struck the post. After multiple substitutions in the second half, Sterling found himself in his more natural attacking role and had multiple chances to increase the lead but failed to do so. Serling was replaced by Armando Broja in the
6. Mateo Kovacic (Central Midfielder): 6/10
Throughout the first half, with the whole Chelsea team being sloppy in possession, Kovacic was the one taking risk and playing the through balls but failed multiple times. Today was more about the Croatian’s defending abilities as he saw very less of the ball. Kovacic was replaced by Jorginho in the 65th minute.
7. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Central Midfielder): 7/10
Playing in the midfield again, Ruben Loftus-Cheek put in another impressive display keeping in mind the fact that CFC were dominated for majority of the game. Again his physicality meant that the English midfielder could withstand Villa’s midfield and won multiple fouls to ease the pressure off the team.
8. Ben Chilwell (Left Wingback): 6/10
Throughout the first half, Ben Chilwell was up against Matty Cash and it was difficult for him to deal with the Villa fullback. In the second half too, Chilwell was under pressure from both Cash and Bailey but after the second goal settled down a bit.
9. Mason Mount (Right Winger): 9/10
Mount got lucky to score the first goal but credit has to be given for his awareness in and around the goal. Apart from this, the England man was majorly involved in defensive actions in the first half. In the second half he scored a beautiful free-kick to double Chelsea’s lead and calm down some nerves.
10. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Striker): 4/10
Chelsea’s inform goalscorer looked completely toothless in today’s game. Aubameyang was barely involved in the play and had to come deep to even be a part of any plan. ‘Auba’ was replaced by Conor Gallagher in the 58th minute.
11. Kai Havertz (Left Winger): 4/10
From early on in the game, Havertz looked sloppy in possession and was anonymous for majority of the first half. The Germany international was involved a bit more towards the end of the first half but not effective enough. havertz was replaced by Cesar Azpilicueta at half time.
12. Kalidou Koulibaly (Centerback): 6.5/10
Kalidou Koulibaly came on for Cucurella at halftime and from the get go looked assuring. Koulibaly’s experience did show and he did well to prevent Villa attackers being influential and threaten the goal.
13. Cesar Azpilicueta (Right Wingback): 6.5/10
Azpilicueta came on for Havertz at halftime and playing in the wingback role meant that the defence line was a bit more secured. The Spaniard did well throughout the second half to secure the clean sheet for Chelsea.
14. Conor Gallagher (Right Winger): 7/10
Conor Gallagher came on for Aubameyang in the 58th minute and was heavily involved in the game right until the end. Be it in attack or at defence, Gallagher was everywhere to be seen and he even brought CFC close to increasing their lead only for Sterling to put the header wide.
15. Jorginho (Central Midfielder): 6/10
Jorginho came on for Mateo Kovacic in the 65th minute. The main role for the Italian midfielder was to calm down the game and keep Chelsea in control. That is exactly what Jorginho successfully did.
16. Armando Broja (Striker): NA
Armando Broja came on for Raheem Sterling in the 89th minute but had very little time to influence the game.