Overview

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Match statistics

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Individual ratings

Frank Lampard

Picked an imbalanced front three who could not retain the ball in the final third, resulting in the defence coming under more pressure. For all the talk about “meritocracy”, one does have to wonder why Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham are held to impossibly high standards while others start regardless of form or fitness considerations. This is not to say picking the two academy graduates would have automatically guaranteed a win, but this was yet another game where Lampard diminished his chances of winning by picking a confusing team.

Having obliterated City last season by playing on the counter, one would have thought the blueprint was clear for Chelsea to follow. However, Lampard tried to adopt a more “dominant” style of play and the move backfired spectacularly. The only reason why Chelsea did not concede five or six was because City took their foot off the gas.

At the very least, if Chelsea were going to dominate the ball, we could have done so in a coherent manner. City let Chelsea have possession for the sake of it and happily capitalized on the naivety whenever the mood struck them. After witnessing the (much-needed) pragmatism in games against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, this was an utterly confusing display.

RATING: 3

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Édouard Mendy

Should have done way better for the first goal, and arguably for the second too. His slump in form mirrors that of the team and while he is nowhere close to a problem yet, he needs to bounce back soon.

RATING: 4

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César Azpilicueta

Was hung out to dry by those ahead of him and there was nothing his aging legs could do to deal with the speed of City’s interplay down his flank. Foden is an incredible player who will embarrass far faster defenders in the future. Azpilicueta never really stood any chance.

Stats of note
3 aerial duels won (4 competed) - 1st among Chelsea players
2 clearances - 2nd
1 shot blocked - Joint 2nd
3 passes into final third - Joint 3rd

RATING: 4

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Photo by ANDY RAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Kurt Zouma

While not solely culpable, he certainly did not cover himself in glory for any of the three goals conceded. City could have driven an entire train through the gap between him and Silva at times, such was the lack of communication between the two. His limitations on the ball were exposed when City’s well-oiled press took away obvious passing options from him.

Stats of note
2 shots blocked - 1st
13 loose-ball recoveries - 1st
2 interceptions - 2nd
2 aerial duels won (2 contested) - 2nd

RATING: 4.5

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Thiago Silva

As with Zouma, he was partly at fault for the goals conceded without directly causing any of them. He tried his best to break lines with mid-range passing but Chelsea’s shambolic structure on the ball meant he had few options. As the leader, he should have perhaps been a bit more vocal and demanded more from his underperforming teammates.

Stats of note
3 interceptions - 1st
5 progressive passes - 2nd
11 loose-ball recoveries - 2nd
3 passes into final third - Joint 3rd

RATING: 4.5

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Ben Chilwell

Progressed the ball well and did his best to hold his own in 2v1 situations created by City down his flank. Not a good day at the office by any means but he was perhaps the best player among the back six.

Stats of note
8 progressive passes - 1st
3 clearances - 1st
2 tackles - 2nd
1 shot blocked - Joint 2nd

RATING: 5

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Photo by Visionhaus

N’Golo Kanté

Was left hopelessly exposed by Kovačić and had a torrid display as a result. Chelsea’s midfield was as compact as a helium balloon and Kanté was consistently beaten on and off the ball. The amount of burden he had to carry against City’s midfield was too much — especially considering this was his 6th start in 22 days — even for a player of his stature. His ball progression (1 progressive pass and 1 pass into final third) was completely off, too.

Stats of note
3 tackles - 1st
9 loose-ball recoveries - 3rd

RATING: 4

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Mateo Kovačić

His hapless display off-the-ball destabilized the defensive unit. His lack of footballing intelligence popped up at the worst possible moments and City feasted on this by consistently dragging him out of space with simple passes.

Stats of note
5 passes into final third - 2nd
4 progressive passes - Joint 3rd

RATING: 3.5

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Mason Mount

Mount’s lack of freshness and the fact he was playing in an unstable team meant he could not affect the game in the way he usually does. He was beaten far too easily in duels and was often outnumbered every time he got the ball in semi-promising locations. While he did work hard, the effectiveness was missing.

Stats of note
8 passes into final third - 1st
3 key passes - 1st
19 pressures - 1st
3 shot-creating actions - Joint 1st
4 progressive passes - Joint 3rd

RATING: 5.5

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Photo by Visionhaus

Hakim Ziyech

Judging by this display, he was nowhere near full fitness. He was consistently a step behind the play and his lack of effort/fitness was ruthlessly exploited. It was bizarre to see one of the best creative passers in the world resort to hit-and-hope crosses too, why not vary the passes a bit?

Stats of note
3 shot-creating actions - Joint 1st

RATING: 4

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Timo Werner

Played centrally against a team that plays a reasonably high line with defenders who are not the quickest — a move that made some sense on paper. However, his lack of ball retention and total lack of confidence meant he never got into dangerous locations and City’s centre backs breezed through the game. There were a couple of promising deliveries into the box that a more confident striker would have attacked.

Stats of note
8 touches in the penalty box - 1st
17 pressures - 2nd

RATING: 4

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Christian Pulisic

A very frustrating display that featured the best and worst of Pulisic. While he showed some great feet in tight spots, his tendency to dribble with his head down and lack of vision meant nothing ever came out of those dribbles.

Stats of note
7 successful dribbles (10 completed) - 1st
4 touches in the penalty box - 2nd
14 pressures - 3rd

RATING: 4.5

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Photo by Andy Rain/PA Images via Getty Images

Callum Hudson-Odoi (64th minute) — As is always the case when the team is in a horrible position, Hudson-Odoi was brought on with a demand to wave his magic wand and rescue the situation. While he got a goal and was lively in general play, he did not do much to change the flow of the game.

He needs to play more for the good of the team but will that happen? It feels as though others are getting picked over him solely because they cost big money and he did not. Hudson-Odoi’s ability to retain the ball in the final third is desperately needed but is being underutilized.

Billy Gilmour (64th minute) — Like with Hudson-Odoi, the game was already done by the time he came on.

Kai Havertz (77th minute) — Got a nice assist which will hopefully boost his confidence. It was refreshing to see him play closer to goal too, although 15 minutes when 3-0 down is hardly a good indicator of future plans.