Chelsea v Brighton player ratings
Chelsea picked up a deserved Boxing Day win by seeing off Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Here’s how we rated each Blues player in the 2-0 victory.
Thibaut Courtois: 7
Barely troubled before a far-post save to deny Glenn Murray late on. Solid whenever called upon.
Cesar Azpilicueta: 8
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Excellent defensively and delivered a peach of a cross for Alvaro Morata to head home the all-important opening goal.
Gary Cahill: 7
Effective at the heart of the defence, where he looked more comfortable than when on the left.
Antonio Rudiger: 7
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Did his job defensively and had his moments at the other end, setting up Tiemoue Bakayoko and trying his luck himself with an effort which was well saved.
Victor Moses: 6
Energetic on the right flank but tamely missed two chances to score in the first half. They were both from a similar position, near the edge of the six-yard box, first after being found by Cesc Fabregas’ clever ball over the top and then by Eden Hazard’s left-wing cross.
N’Golo Kante: 7
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Made sure Chelsea kept control of the game in midfield. Kept things ticking over with minimal fuss.
Tiemoue Bakayoko: 6
The midfielder has improved in recent games and this was another decent showing, But he will be disappointed not to have scored, having side-footed wide after Rudiger had headed Cesc Fabregas’ cross towards him. Bakayoko showed much more composure in the second half when he took down a long ball from Fabregas and laid it off to Hazard, who fired wide.
Cesc Fabregas: 8
Vintage Fabregas. Involved from the off, he set up Moses for a great chance, was involved in the build up to Bakayoko’s opportunity and delivered the corner from which Marcos Alonso headed in the second goal a couple of minutes after going close from another Fabregas set-piece. But arguably the highlight of Fabregas’ display was a glorious ball forward which led to Hazard almost doubling the lead soon after Alonso’s opener.
Marcos Alonso: 8
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Twice denied by fine saves by keeper Mat Ryan, first with a trademark left-footed free-kick and then with a header, before the Spaniard got the goal his performance deserved.
Eden Hazard: 8
Usual stuff from Hazard; electrifying with the ball at his feet and always a threat with his skill and movement. He was in the thick of the action and was unlucky not to score with a second-half shot he steered narrowly wide and another which was cleared off the line by Shane Duffy.
Alvaro Morata: 8
Showed his finishing prowess – and how much it was missed at Everton – when he headed in the opening goal 52 seconds into the second half, It was a deserved breakthrough for Morata, who was lively from the start.
