1. DIEGO COSTA | 8.4 |
Minutes played85
Touches56
Passes24/31
Shots3*/6
Take-ons1/4
Clearances3/3
Refreshed, refueled, and recommitted(?), Diego Costa goes straight back up to the top, picking up just about where he'd left off — although he got the top spot by mere hundredths this time.
This is Costa's team-leading ninth Man of the Match vote win, which is now just four shy of the single-season record held by Hazard (twice, in 2014-15 and 2012-13) and Juan Mata (also 2012-13). Costa's already well on pace to beat Hazard's record 7.9 season average rating; can he also grab the Man of the Match record?
I wouldn't bet against him.
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2. THIBAUT COURTOIS | 8.4 |
Minutes played90
Touches32
Distribution20/27
Saves4
Courtois was actually made to work for this clean sheet, his 13th of the season, easily the most for any goalkeeper in any of the "major" top tier leagues around Europe (Casillas at FC Porto is second with 11).
In fact, according to Transfermarkt, Courtois' 13 clean sheets are joint second most in "all first to third leagues world wide" — there are four keepers on 14: Andrej Prskalo (HNK Rijeka in Croatia's top tier), Dany Carvajal (Saprissa in Costa Rica), Tomeu Nadal (Albacete, who are nowadays in the Spanish third division), and Scott Carson (Derby County), while David Stockdale (Brighton), Sherif Ekramy (El Ahly in Egypt), and Relu Stoian of the Romanian second division are all on 13 as well.
Not bad, not bad at all.
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3. GARY CAHILL | 8.3 |
Minutes played90
Touches52
Passes38/44
Shots1*/1
Tackles2
Concussion concerns and issues aside, nice to see Gary Cahill recognized for his steady efforts in Chelsea's three-man defense.
Cahill has been ever-present so far this season, despite that horrible run of form and bad luck he had earlier this season as Conte searched for better answers than a 4-2-4 or a 4-3-3.
That said, with Nathan Aké added to the squad, Cahill should get a well deserved (and possibly needed) rest on Saturday against Brentford in the FA Cup.
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STARTERS:
Courtois (8.4), Cahill (8.3), David Luiz (7.5), Azpilicueta (7.6), Alonso (7.2), Matić (7.0), Kanté (7.3), Moses (7.6), Hazard (6.7), Costa (8.4), Pedro (6.9)
SUBS:
Fàbregas (7.8), Willian (6.8), Batshuayi (6.5)