Chelsea Player Ratings V Liverpool: Two Players Get 1/10 While Four Others Get 3

Chelsea may feel hard done by some of the refereeing decisions at Anfield but, as manager Mauricio Pochettino said after the game, they were simply not good enough.

Not only did the Blues concede four goals, Darwin Nunez hit the woodwork no less than four times as Liverpool dominated the match.

If this team is going to beat these opponents in the Carabao Cup final later this month, they will have to show a lot more than they did on Wednesday evening.

Press the next page as we give player ratings from Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Goalkeeper and Defence

GK – Djordje Petrovic – 7/10 –  one of the few players who can hold his head up high, tipping two of Nunez’s shots onto the woodwork. Even though Robert Sanchez is now fit, the Serbian international has done enough to keep his place.

RB – Axel Disasi – 3/10 – Luis Diaz ran rings around him in the first half. He was switched centrally after the interval but he didn’t perform much better, failing to mark Dominik Szoboszlai who headed in Liverpool’s third goal.

CB – Thiago Silva – 3/10 – made a weak challenge on Diogo Jota before the home side’s opener and did very little to stem the tide as the Reds attacked relentlessly.

CB – Benoit Badiashile – 1/10 – he is only 22 years of age so it’s probably unfair to be too harsh on the defender but he was awful. The Frenchman was outmuscled by Jota for Liverpool’s first goal, he then gave away a penalty after standing on the same player’s foot. When he was switched to left-back in the second half, he stood off Conor Bradley and allowed him to cross the ball unchallenged for Szoboszlai to score. He then failed to get back into position to mark Diaz for Liverpool’s fourth.

LB – Ben Chilwell – 1/10 – the vice-captain may have more of an excuse than Badiashile in the fact that he is coming back from a lengthy injury but he was just as bad. He gave a ball directly to Darwin Nunez before the Uruguayan shot wide. He was then booked for diving prior to getting into a wrestling match with Jota, leaving Bradley free and open to score Liverpool’s second. Deservedly hooked at half-time.

Midfield

CM – Moises Caicedo – 3/10 – gave the ball away needlessly in the build-up to Liverpool’s second goal, and he was completely overrun in midfield.

CM – Enzo Fernandez – 4/10 – the midfielder did show some neat touches and a few trademark pinpoint passes, but it is concerning that both he and Caicedo were unable to stamp their authority on the game.

The two players are still relatively young but, after spending £222m on the pair, you’d expect a lot more from them in the big matches.

AM – Conor Gallagher – 4/10 – the 23-year-old’s limitations were very much on show at Anfield. He could have had a penalty early on but, other than that, he did very little of note in possession.

Forwards

RW – Noni Madueke – 5/10 – the winger expected too much time on the ball in an atmosphere where quick thinking was vital. He wasn’t the worst performer though and it was harsh to substitute him at half-time.

CF – Cole Palmer – 4/10 – the 21-year-old looks really uncomfortable in the false nine role, and it was not a surprise that he was moved deeper in the second half to get himself more on the ball.

However, despite the change in position, Palmer’s performance didn’t improve a great deal. His inconsistency is unsurprising for his age but it is no less frustrating.

Lw – Raheem Sterling – 5/10 – worked hard but the lack of support from those around him meant he didn’t really get into the game. He did set up Gallagher early on, who could have got a penalty on another night.

Substitutes

Christopher Nkunku – 8/10 – the Frenchman simply looks a class above every other Chelsea player. Took his goal superbly and should have had a penalty when Virgil van Dijk fouled him.

Mykhailo Mudryk – 3/10 – missed a glorious opportunity soon after coming on after half-time and things didn’t improve for him from there.

Malo Gusto – 7/10 – delivered a good cross to set up Mudryk early in the second half.

Carney Chukwuemeka – 7/10 – got an assist for Nkunku’s goal. Always looking to make things happen in possession.

Cesare Casadei – N/A