1. RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK (9.7)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 102
Passes: 73/77
Shots: 4***/5
Take-ons: 6/11
Fouls drawn: 2

It took Ruben Loftus-Cheek less than 10 minutes to double his career total of goals for Chelsea, completing his historic hat-trick in the second-half to truly kill the game. It was certainly nice to see at least one Chelsea player capable of finishing their chances, a quality that’s been crucially missing from anyone not named Eden Hazard. Will that result in RLC getting more minutes? Probably. It won’t make him an automatic starter, but he seems well established in the second-string now after starts in the last two Europa League matches, and that’s better than nothing. If he continues developing and adding the required ingredients to his game, he just double his career tally of goals for Chelsea a few more times.

2. KEPA ARRIZABALAGA (7.6)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 27
Passes: 20/21
Saves: 1

When we step back and think about it, Kepa’s adjustment to England has been practically flawless. Sure, perhaps that should be expected of the most expensive goalkeeper ever, and sure, slow starts can be overcome (David De Gea comes to mind), but it sure is nice to not have to worry about it.

3. MATEO KOVAČIĆ (7.6)

Minutes: 75
Touches: 115
Passes: 91/95
Shots: 0/1
Take-ons: 5/6
Fouls drawn: 3
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 3+1+2

Kovačić’s game is the type of steady excellence that’s hard to properly evaluate within the context of a single 90-minute session, which perhaps explains why this is his second highest rated game for Chelsea thus far despite playing a key role in the team. He’s failed to feature in just one match since arriving (PAOK away) — only Willian, who’s played in every single game so far this season, can claim a better record

vs. BATE BORISOV (EL, H, W 3-1)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): Loftus-Cheek (9.7)

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): —

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Arrizabalaga (7.6), Kovačić (7.6), Zappacosta (7.5), Emerson (7.2), Willian (7.2), Christensen (7.2)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Cahill (6.9), Fàbregas (6.8), Pedro (6.7), Hudson-Odoi (6.6, sub), Kanté (6.5, sub), Giroud (6.3)

POOR (5.0-5.9): Moses (5.4, sub)

BAD (4.0-4.9): —

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

OVERALL