1. N’GOLO KANTÉ (8.7)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 94
Passes: 68/70
Shots: 1*/3
Take-ons: 1/2
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 2+6+3

Chelsea started the season with an away win keyed by a goal and a Man of the Match performance from newly positioned N’Golo Kanté, and the Blues started the second half of the season in the exact same fashion. Sunday’s narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace wasn’t quite as impressive as the 3-0 win over Huddersfield way back in August, but the three points count the same, as does Kanté’s match-winning performance.

2. DAVID LUIZ (7.8)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 81
Passes: 69*/75
Clearances: 4

The man supplying the glorious pass for Kanté was David Luiz, showing exactly why he’s continuing to be one of the first names on the team sheet for Maurizio Sarri.

3. CÉSAR AZPILICUETA (7.7)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 89
Passes: 58/65
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 2+4+1
Clearances: 3

Captain, Leader, The man who kept Wilfried Zaha quiet and ineffective.

vs. CRYSTAL PALACE (PL, A, W 1-0)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Kanté (8.7),

GOOD (7.0-7.9): David Luiz (7.8), Azpilicueta (7.7), Arrizabalaga (7.2), Rüdiger (7.1),

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Jorginho (6.8), Hazard (6.7), Giroud (6.3), Barkley (6.3), Willian (6.0), Kovačić (6.0, sub)

POOR (5.0-5.9): Alonso (5.9), Emerson (5.7, sub), Morata (5.0, sub)

BAD (4.0-4.9): —

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

OVERALL