The Blues continued to dominate the game in the second half, and had several opportunities to put the game to bed.
Chelsea picked up a vital three points on Saturday evening, as they defeated winless Sheffield United by four goals to one at Stamford Bridge in a hard-fought encounter in west London.
The Blades took a shock lead on nine minutes, when a well-worked corner kick routine landed at the feet of David McGoldrick, and the forward cutely flicked the ball into the net with his back to goal. But the Blues were not behind long, as Tammy Abraham pulled the hosts level with a neat finish on 23 minutes.
Frank Lampard’s side took an advantage ten minutes later, after Hakim Ziyech’s deep searching cross fell into the path of Ben Chilwell, who simply couldn’t miss from all of a yard out.
Sheffield United tried desperately to get back on level terms, but Chelsea ultimately clinched the game through a Thiago Silva header and a Timo Werner strike to lift themselves back into the top four of the Premier League table.
Let’s have a look at the player ratings from Saturday evening’s action at Stamford Bridge.
CHELSEA
- Goalkeeper & Defenders
Edouard Mendy (GK) – 7/10 – Finally beaten in the Premier League by a cheeky flick. Realistically given no chance. Commanded his penalty area with dominance and kept the visitors at bay throughout. Confident.
Reece James (RB) – 8/10 – Set Chelsea moving with a great ball over the top for the equaliser. Solid defensively and pulled off a crucial interception to kill a Sheffield United counter attack in the second half.
Thiago Silva (CB) – 9/10 – Continued his impressive transition into Premier League football. A visible leader in the backline, and offered his experience and calm head when the hosts fell behind. Capped off a super performance with a goal.
Kurt Zouma (CB) – 8/10 – Growing as a player with a proper winner by his side. Won plenty of headers, cleared everything from the box and looked very composed in possession. Becoming the player Chelsea have hoped he could be.
Ben Chilwell (LB) – 9/10 – Spent huge chunks of the game in Sheffield United’s final third. Had a good shot saved early on. Put the Blues ahead with a strike off of his thigh. Had to be in the right place to score it, though.
- Midfielders
Mateo Kovacic (CM) – 8/10 – Provided the killer cut-back to Abraham for Chelsea’s first strike of the evening. Drove the Blues forward in the second half. Almost got an assist with a delicious back-heel.
N’Golo Kante (CM) – 7/10 – Darted around the pitch, making himself available and breaking up the Sheffield United counter-attacks with his usual expert timing.
Mason Mount (CM) – 7/10 – Pushed up onto the left side of the midfield to try and invent openings for his teammates. Made some nice runs to get in behind and bring his colleagues into play. Typically busy.
- Forwards
Hakim Ziyech (RW) – 9/10 – Always working the ball onto that deadly left foot to whip dangerous crosses into the penalty area. Got his reward with a perfect ball onto Chilhwell’s thigh and Silva’s head for the second and third goals.
Tammy Abraham (ST) – 8/10 – Tucked away his chance on 23 minutes clinically, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner. Constantly searching to supply his fellow forwards, even if his buildup play didn’t always find the right man. Solid.
Timo Werner (LW) – 8/10 – Looked less comfortable than he has centrally in recent weeks, but the guy is a natural all over the pitch. Finally got on the scoresheet with a goal late on.
- Substitutes
Jorginho (CM) – 7/10
Olivier Giroud (ST) – N/A
SHEFFIELD UNITED
- Goalkeeper & Centre-Backs
Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 5/10 – Beaten by the bounce of Abraham’s effort, and should have been braver at the far post for Chelsea’s second. Instead, he stayed rooted to his line, and Chilwell did the rest. Beaten and beaten again.
Chris Basham (CB) – 6/10 – Defended on the front foot, gave Werner little time on the ball and space in which to operate. Denied Kovacic with a great last-ditch tackle. Never going to be an easy game and caught out chasing the match.
John Egan (CB) – 6/10 – Great header off the line in the second half to deny Ziyech what surely would have been the decisive goal. Did his best to handle the strength and movement of Abraham.
Enda Stevens (CB) – 5/10 – Not a good performance. Struggled to cope with the trickery of Ziyech. Almost handed the game to Chelsea in the second half with some sleepy defending.
Wing-Backs & Midfielders
- George Baldock (RWB) – 6/10 – Switched on to take the corner quickly for the opening goal, and pulled it back accurately for the waiting Berge.
Sander Berge (CM) – 6/10 – Got the assist with his pass into the box which landed at the feet of the deadly McGoldrick. Offered his usual bustle, using his size and physique effectively.
Oliver Norwood (CM) – 5/10 – Nothing seemed to flow through Norwood, who should have been dictating the game for the Blades. Couldn’t get his foot on the ball, and his teammates couldn’t find him. A bad combo.
John Lundstram (CM) – 5/10 – Not quite the impactful player he was last season. Whatever he did to get into goalscoring positions so often in the past, is evidently lacking from his game at the moment. Out of form.
Max Lowe (LWB) – 5/10 – Put some nice, dangerous crosses into the Chelsea box from the left flank, but failed to deliver on his defensive duties. Appeared off the pace and out-thought by his opponents.
- Forwards
David McGoldrick (ST) – 7/10 – CHEEKAYYY! Provided a lovely little flick to open the scoring, showing 100 composure. Won so many high balls through his physical presence and experience in the air. A classy operator.
Rhian Brewster (ST) – 5/10 – Fed off McGoldrick’s flick ons and knock downs, constantly dipping in behind the Chelsea defence. Never really looked like scoring, though – which is a problem, as a striker.
- Substitutes
Oli McBurnie (ST) – 6/10
Ben Osborn (CM) – 6/10
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