1. CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI (8.4)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 77
Passes: 47/53
Shots: 1*/1
Take-ons: 9/13
Aerial duels: 2
Tackles: 2

Callum Hudson-Odoi gets a start, Callum Hudson-Odoi impresses, Callum Hudson-Odoi does fun things, Callum Hudson-Odoi goes back to the bench.

Any questions?

2. N’GOLO KANTÉ (8.2)

Minutes: 75
Touches: 57
Passes: 33/38
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 3+4+2

This just may have been Kanté’s best game in his “new” position that everyone likes to hem and haw over.

It should be noted that this is his 20th appearance in our player ratings top three this season, which gives him one more than Eden Hazard. In those 20, Kanté has only won the Man of the Match twice, finishing 9 times on each of the other two rungs. Basically, he’s always good, sometimes great — i.e. maybe not doing so badly after all even when filtered through fan perceptions and emotions.

3. WILLIAN (7.5)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 72
Passes: 47**/52
Shots: 0/1
Take-ons: 1/5
Fouls drawn: 2
Tackles: 1

Willian’s tendency to play (much) better when Hazard isn’t involved continues.

vs. MALMÖ FF (EL, H, W 3-0)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Hudson-Odoi (8.4), Kanté (8.2)

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Willian (7.5), Giroud (7.3), Barkley (7.3), Emerson (7.2), Christensen (7.1)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Loftus-Cheek (6.9, sub), Rüdiger (6.8), Kovačić (6.5), Caballero (6.5), Ampadu (6.4, sub), Azpilicueta (6.3), Jorginho (6.0, sub)

POOR (5.0-5.9): —

BAD (4.0-4.9): —

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

SARRIBALL-ESQUE (0.0-2.9): —

OVERALL