Chelsea player ratings vs Middlesbrough: Palmer exceptional, Broja abysmal

Mauricio Pochettino, for the first time in a long time, played an actual left back at left back. He also played Levi Colwill as a centerback, leaving these players to do what they do best. Palmer was once again top quality, showing his clinical side by converting his only two shots of the game into goals. The backline generally did it's job, but Dorde Petrovic misjudged a long shot and conceded in the 89th minute. Here are the Chelsea ratings from the second leg of the EFL Cup semifinal tie.

Dorde Petrovic: 6/10

He has been fantastic in most games, only suffering due to the Blues' inability to prevent their opponents from taking good shots. However, he was at fault for the goal that Boro scored yesterday. He had done many things well up until that point too.

Axel Disasi: 8/10

Disasi was superb, save for his aerial numbers. He played the role of overlapping right back so well that he scored a goal after running into space from sumptuous combination play. He was also great defensively, holding his own in duels. His passing was good too.

Thiago Silva: 7/10

Silva was very good in the center of the back line. He only misplaced six passes from an attempted 120. He was OK defensively, though the Blues didn't have a crazy amount of defending to do in 90 minutes, conceding just four shots.

Levi Colwill: 6/10

Colwill was OK, but he wasn't very good at winning the ball back. His passing was fine, having completed 92% of his passes. He only completed 4/9 long passes though.

Ben Chilwell: 7/10

Chilwell was good on his return from injury. He played an important role in Chelsea's buildup. He was also dominant in his duels, winning 6/8. His crossing was poor, but crossing is a low percentage activity anyway.

Enzo Fernandez: 8/10

Fernandez had a very good game, though his passing was not as good as it usually is. He completed 7/9 long passes, but only 2/54 completed passes were into the final third. He did very well to get into goal-scoring positions though, and he was rewarded for his superb movement. The finish for his goal was top class.

Moises Caicedo: 6/10

Caicedo kept it simple, which is not something that he can be knocked for. He has had better games in Chelsea Blue, that's for sure. He was a little busy in midfield, contesting eight ground duels, including four tackles, according to Sofascore.

Raheem Sterling: 7/10

Sterling, in yet another game, was unable to impose himself on the opposition - in possession. He was still very effective off the ball, getting on the end of a very good goal-scoring chance and generally making himself a nuisance with his movement. His dribbling was poor though, and his defending was not much better.

Cole Palmer: 9.5/10

Palmer takes the cake again. He is now up to 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions for Chelsea this season. He has also helped the west London club to another domestic cup final, making it 18 now for Boehly's men. The next highest is 14. While Palmer's dribbling was not great, his movement was, and he got on the end of two beautiful chances, which he finished superbly. He also created a big chance, giving his teammates concrete opportunities to get on the scoreboard too.

Mykhailo Mudryk: 5/10

Mudryk showed why Raheem Sterling has continued to and will continue to start over him, regardless of what the fans think of Sterling's performances. Mudryk was - once again - ineffective, and was rightly taken off at halftime.

Armando Broja: 4/10

Broja - in 65 minutes of work - only managed to get one shot off. His dribbling was abysmal, completing 0/3 dribbles. He also lost 4/5 defensive duels, which would not have been as much of an issue, if he was not a big, 1.91m tall dude. He is not close to staking a claim for a regular starting role when Nicolas Jackson returns, to put it mildly.

Noni Madueke (45'): 6/10

Good thing Madueke got off a shot on target because all he did in the game against Boro was try to dribble and fail. He looked busy though, which would cause many fans to remember his cameo favorably.

Alfie Gilchrist (65'): 6/10

Gilchrist was fine, he was strong in his duels and completed 86% of his passes.

Conor Gallagher (65'): 8/10

Gallagher was very good when he came on. He was very good creatively, as he created a clear-cut chance, and recorded two assists. He was also strong in his duels. Many fans have had opinions on where Gallagher should be "when everyone is fit", however, the former Crystal Palace midfielder is starting on merit and he has a strong case for starting as many games and playing as many minutes as he has this season.

Carney Chukwuemeka (72'): 6/10

Chukwuemeka was OK. He did nothing spectacular, but he was solid, winning 2/2 ground duels.

Leo Castledine (85'): N/A

It was a special moment for the 18-year-old as he made his debut for his boyhood club. Whatever the Pride of London has to say, no doubt this match would be a 10/10 in Leo's mind.

Mauricio Pochettino: 7.5/10

Pochettino doesn't get a higher rating than that because he tried to lower the standards before the first leg, in other to have a ready excuse if his team doesn't win. Chelsea failed to win the first leg, which was unacceptable. This result is more like it, and it shows that the fans were right to expect a resounding victory against Boro. His team selection was OK, and he was right to substitute off Mudryk when he did, considering the first half the youngster had.