1. EDEN HAZARD 8.9

Minutes: 90
Touches: 80
Passes: 40/49
Shots: 3**/3
Take-ons: 6/9
Fouls drawn: 4

After a brief power outage, Eden Hazard looks to be back and once again standing head and shoulders about everyone else in the player ratings pile. On top for the third time in the last four games, this is now his 10th Man of the Match award for the season, just one less than the next three (3!) players combined (Giroud 4, Kepa 4, Loftus-Cheek 3). Keep going!

2. MATEO KOVAČIĆ (7.4)

Minutes: 78
Touches: 81
Passes: 68*/74
Take-ons: 1/1
Tackles+Blocks: 2+1

It feels like Kovačić has had an excellent season and is once again on top of the pecking order for the third spot in midfield, but he’s been largely ignored as far as the player ratings have been concerned. This is just his third appearance in the top three (zero MoMs).

3. N’GOLO KANTÉ (7.1)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 66
Passes: 43/50
Shots: 0/1
Take-ons: 2/3
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 7+1+3

One player who struggles not for recognition is N’Golo Kanté (this is his 10th appearance in the top three), who slowly taught the wide football audience in how to appreciate his special brand of football ... which he’s now eschewing a bit for a slightly more attacking remit, but as Sarri reminded recently, Kanté is one player in the squad who does not have a backup. He is the only defensive-minded midfielder we have and remains possibly the most crucial player in the team.

vs. WATFORD (PL, A, W 2-1)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Hazard (8.9),

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Kovačić (7.4), Kanté (7.1)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Jorginho (6.9), Arrizabalaga (6.8), Azpilicueta (6.7), David Luiz (6.5), Rüdiger (6.4), Pedro (6.4), Willian (6.3), Emerson (6.2, sub)

POOR (5.0-5.9): Hudson-Odoi (5.9, sub), Barkley (5.9, sub), Alonso (5.9)

BAD (4.0-4.9): —

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

OVERALL