1. CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI (8.1)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 64
Passes: 36*/45
Shots: 0/2
Take-ons: 3/4
Fouls drawn: 1

The youngest player on the team, and one who can do it all. Left foot, right foot, shoot, pass, dribble, and even track back. He’s as good as we remember him, and presumably will only get better. His assist for Alonso, making the extra pass instead of forcing his own shot, was his fourth game in a row with an assist, adding to his goal against Grimsby Town in the League Cup. As ever, there’s danger of overhyping the kid, but he looks like the real deal as we attempt to fill the void left by Eden Hazard.

2. MARCOS ALONSO (7.8)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 104
Passes: 59/71
Shots: 2*/2
Take-ons: 0/1
Tackles+Blocks: 4+2

First goal of the season for Alonso, giving him a mightily impressive 19 in his Chelsea career. On Saturday, he looked dreadfully slow at times, both in terms of pace, reactions, and decisions — for once, justifying some of the criticism he tends to get — but then he popped up at the other end to score the crucial goal. Nice to see him not get denied by the woodwork like so often last season!

3. JORGINHO (7.8)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 115
Passes: 96/103
Shots: 0/0
Take-ons: 1/2
Tackles: 5
Clearances: 2

The Jorginho redemption tour continues with another strong on-the-ball performance, though getting to play most of the game with Kovačić rather than Barkley probably helped a fair amount. Sorry, Ross!

vs. NEWCASTLE UNITED (PL, H, W 1-0)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Hudson-Odoi (8.1)

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Alonso (7.8), Jorginho (7.8), Willian (7.4), Pulisic (7.4, sub), Kovačić (7.3, sub)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Arrizabalaga (6.9), Zouma (6.9), Abraham (6.9), Azpilicueta (6.7), Tomori (6.5), Mount (6.3), James (6.0, sub)

POOR (5.0-5.9): Barkley (5.5)

BAD (4.0-4.9): —

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

OVERALL

(through previous match)