West Ham v Chelsea player ratings
Chelsea’s 100% record this season was brought to an end by West Ham, who held them to a goalless draw. Here’s how we rated each Blues player in the derby stalemate at the London Stadium.
Kepa Arrizabalagai: 7
Excellent reaction save with his feet to keep out a close-range effort from Michail Antonio. That was all the more laudable for the fact he was a virtual spectator throughout.
Cesar Azpilucueta: 6
Kept honest by the skills of Felipe Anderson down his flank, which restricted the forward excursions. A comfortable afternoon for him, as it was for the Chelsea defence as a whole.
Antonio Rudiger: 7
Another impeccable performance from the German. Measured passing and seldom ruffled. Had plenty of opportunities to get on the front foot.
David Luiz: 6
Exposed once or twice by diving in to tackles rather than holding back. Had a free-kick from distance easily saved.
Marcos Alonso: 6
Efficient afternoon almost undone when he allowed Andriy Yarmolenko to escape him for a free header following an inviting Robert Snodgrass cross.
N’Golo Kante: 6
Again deployed in a more advanced position. Nearly stole in to head in a Willian cross just before half-time.
Jorginho: 6
Looked to be in the comfort zone, as West Ham attacks were very sporadic. Some nice little chips out to Eden Hazard but was unable to find a key pass.
Mateo Kovacic: 6
Like Jorginho, was workmanlike without managing to find that extra yard of space that Maurizio Sarri’s men waited for so patiently.
Willian: 8
Saw plenty of the ball. West Ham restricted his crosses well, but his clever flicks and feints always promised – one in particular almost paved the way for Hazard. Another burst past Pablo Zabaleta almost saw Kante score.
Eden Hazard: 7
Constantly carrying the ball into areas of danger in the first half, but faded a little in influence as Willian became the likelier source of a goal.
Olivier Giroud: 6
Did not come into contact with the ball as often as Chelsea needed him to and exited after 65 minutes, without having threatened too much.
Alvaro Morata: 6
On for Giroud just past the hour and almost broke the stalemate immediately with a shot from close in that was kept out by Lukasz Fabianski.
Gary Cahill: 6
Came on for Rudiger after 69 minutes. Had little to do as West Ham retreated to hold on to a point.
Ross Barkley: 6
On for Kovacic on 79 minutes. A late curling effort had Fabianski at full stretch.
