1. MATEO KOVAČIĆ (7.4)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 109
Passes: 68/80
Shots: 1*/2
Take-ons: 6/9
Fouls drawn: 3
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 4+1+2

In Chelsea’s lowest-rated game of the season — and it’s fair distance worse than the opening day 4-0 loss to Manchester United — Kovačić was the only player who managed to play up to his usual standard of late. He’s now started 11 games in a row, and despite Chelsea’s stuttering form, has averaged a 7.3 rating over that span. That may not sound too impressive, but it’s actually pretty hard to to maintain a 7+ individual average without a long winning streak and/or title challenge from the team as a collective. Oh, and he scored another goal! That’s two in four games after going scoreless for over 160 or some other silly number.

2. N’GOLO KANTÉ (5.9)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 96
Passes: 59/71
Shots: 0/0
Take-ons: 3/4
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 5+2+1
Clearances: 4

Like Chelsea, N’Golo is playing a bit below his best at the moment. Unlike Chelsea, N’Golo not as his best is still excellent.

3. CHRISTIAN PULISIC (5.3)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 60
Passes: 17/28
Shots: 1/2
Take-ons: 4/10
Fouls drawn: 4
Tackles+Blocks: 1+1
Clearances: 1

Under-performing The Athletic Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson took apparent glee on Twitter in going after Pulisic’s supposed turnover numbers, but even if we ignore the questionable methodology behind the supposed total — 30 = 11 misplaced passes + 3 inaccurate crosses + 6 failed take-ons + 1x offside + 4x dispossessed + 3x bad control + 2 mystery events? (per WhoScored) — Pulisic plays in a position that is expected to be trying things. Eden Hazard regularly led the team in possessions lost. The only real gripe with Pulisic was that he didn’t take enough shots. In fact, the entire attack somehow developed this strange obsession with trying to walk in the ball, which was as frustrating as it was inexplicable.

vs. EVERTON (PL, A, L 1-3)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): —

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Kovačić (7.4)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): —

POOR (5.0-5.9): Kanté (5.9), Pulisic (5.3), Abraham (5.1)

BAD (4.0-4.9): James (4.9), Mount (4.8), Willian (4.6), Hudson-Odoi (4.1, sub), Azpilicueta (4.0)

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): Batshuayi (3.8, sub), Christensen (3.3), Zouma (3.1)

UH-OH (0.0-2.9): Arrizabalaga (2.9)

OVERALL