1. N’GOLO KANTÉ (9.2)

Minutes: 120
Touches: 102
Passes: 58/68
Shots: 0/1
Take-ons: 9/13
Tackles+INTs: 3+2

It’s taken N’Golo Kanté one game — one not fully fit game! — to remind of and confirm his credentials as Chelsea’s best midfielder, most important player, greatest everything. 2019-20 may be the season of change and youth, but Kanté is our constant. He’s our Penny. As Frank Lampard said after the game, “let’s talk about Kanté”, baby. He didn’t say “baby”, but he probably meant to.

Kanté, deployed on the right side of the midfield three, did all the things we’ve come to know and love over the past three years. He also did something we’ve never seen from him before. He turned into a dribbling machine, taking on his man over a dozen times, and beating him a career-best nine (9!) times. Eden Hazard would be proud of those numbers.

It’s worth noting that Kanté played in the same position as under Sarri, but like the rest of Chelsea, was even more incisive and direct. Given that Chelsea lined up with a three in midfield and set out a high press, Kanté’s role should not be surprising. He’s not a lone holding midfielder like Makélélé used to be, that much has been established a long time ago. He’s perfect in a midfield-two pivot and now he’s perfect in a midfield three box-to-box.

“I like to play in this position, this is where I played last year. The coach asked me to play in this position, I like to do it. I know what to do with my teammates and we played a good game tonight.”

-N’Golo Kanté; source: Metro

He’s simply, perfect.

2. PEDRO (8.1)

Minutes: 120
Touches: 82
Passes: 54/56
Shots: 0/4
Take-ons: 2/3
Fouls drawn: 3
Tackles+Blocks: 4+2

It’s not at all surprising that big game lucky charm and trophy-kleptomaniac Pedro played an excellent game with another shiny bauble on the line. The only surprising thing was that his shot hit the woodwork and thus he did not get to add it to his personal trophy cabinet in the end (it would’ve been his fourth Super Cup).

3. CHRISTIAN PULISIC (8.1)

Minutes: 72
Touches: 53
Passes: 20*/27
Shots: 0/2
Take-ons: 1/3
Fouls drawn: 1
Tackles: 3

Pedro, Pulisic, and Arrizabalaga were separated by mere hundredths in the community ratings, though if Pulisic’s goal doesn’t get chalked off for a marginal offside, he surely would’ve vaulted into second place. Lampard expects a lot more to come from the 20-year-old, and based on this game, his full debut for Chelsea, we should be expecting the same.

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vs. LIVERPOOL (USC, N, L 2-2)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): Kanté (9.2)

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Pedro (8.1), Pulisic (8.1), Arrizabalaga (8.1)

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Emerson (7.6), Giroud (7.6), Jorginho (7.5), Mount (7.3, sub), Kovačić (7.1), Christensen (7.0)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Zouma (6.9), Tomori (6.6, sub), Azpilicueta (6.5), Abraham (6.2, sub), Barkley (6.2, sub)

POOR (5.0-5.9): —

BAD (4.0-4.9): —

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

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OVERALL

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2018-19 FINAL