Chelsea v Leicester player ratings
Chelsea slumped to a shock home loss against Leicester City. Here’s how we rated each Blues player in the game at Stamford Bridge.
Kepa Arrizabalaga: 7
Made a superb one-handed save when he reached up to a 25-yard screamer from Wilfred Ndidi. A dive was also needed to ensure Marc Albrighton did not make it 2-0.
Cesar Azpilicueta: 6
Got back to prevent a second City goal – blocking a Jamie Vardy back-heel with his knee – but made to work hard by the tireless Ben Chilwell and some vibrant second-half breaks from the visitors.
David Luiz: 6
A timely early intervention to halt Chilwell’s run on goal. Always looking to get attacks going with some probing passes and thrilling surges, but unable to get close enough to Vardy when City scored.
Antonio Rudiger: 7
Some no-nonsense headed clearances from the German on the rare occasions Leicester managed to break forward in the first half. Looked ordinary when James Maddison put Vardy in for City’s goal, but a vital header later denied Vardy a free header. So close to nodding a late equaliser at a corner.
Marcos Alonso: 6
Form still seems strangely subdued, with little of the swashbuckling play down the flanks he normally provides. Did not look like the likely source of recovery, but almost was – striking the inside of a post at the death.
N’Golo Kante: 7
Full of running against his former team and one great carry on the break almost created a goal for Willian. Also put what seemed a certain goal on a plate for Alonso during a breathless finale.
Jorginho: 6
Stung the palms of Kasper Schmeichel from outside the box in the first half, but did not have much of a say in how the afternoon unfolded.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri: “I think we played very well for 55 minutes, we played very good football, and after the goal the reaction was for me a strange reaction.”
Mateo Kovacic: 7
Skied an effort well over the bar after working himself into a yard of space just outside the box and had another better low effort blocked. Some good ball-winning moments in midfield and a great pass in the second half which was nearly put away by Eden Hazard.
Pedro: 7
So close to netting with a glancing near-post header from a Wilian corner. Slipped in a great pass to give Hazard an opening which should have brought the opening goal.
Eden Hazard: 7
Chances came his way in his new false number nine role, but it was not his day. Cracked a shot against the bar after being put through by Pedro – a chance he normally gobbles up – and forced the City keeper into a great near-post save. Guilty of a tame finish inside the box after a flowing counter-attack led by Kante, but had Schmeichel scrambling with a deflected low effort as Chelsea tried to fight back.
Willian: 6
Guilty of a tame finish inside the box after a flowing counter-attack led by Kante, but had Schmeichel scrambling with a deflected low effort as Chelsea tried to fight back. Made way for Giroud on the hour.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 6
Replaced Kovacic on 60 minutes but much of his work was from deep, and he could not generate the moves the Blues needed to get back into the match.
Olivier Giroud: 6
On for Willian after an hour, as Maurizio Sarri shuffled his pack. A nod down almost paved the way for Hazard, but his co-striker was crowded out. One twisting mid-air effort was more fresh-air than firm contact.
Cesc Fabregas: 6
On for Jorginho for the last 20 minutes. Picked out Giroud with a typically floated pass, which the Frenchman could not convert. But misplaced passes suggested some rustiness from a player now spending much time on the bench.
