I was concerned for the first 45 minutes on Saturday as we were outplayed by Manchester United in the first half. We had just 0.28 expected goals against 1.01. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo both had their 1v1s with Mike Penders and blazed their efforts high over the bar.
However, we bounced back in the second half and ended with 2.62 expected goals against their 1.17. Expected goals are simply a measure of the quality of chances created. We created much better ones and finished them off clinically to win the game.
United made good chances and wasted them. It’s what you would expect from a side that has now gone nine games without a win. Meanwhile, Lisandro Martínez decided to give Manchester United fans a horror film to watch for Halloween.
Morgan Rogers scored the goal of the afternoon, Cole Palmer hit a milestone penalty, and Estêvão reminded us of what we have on our bench. By the end of the second half, I was thoroughly delighted, and with good reason. Here are my ratings:
Mike Penders –7.5
A clean sheet was exactly what the young keeper needed after his own goal against Tottenham. He made three saves, including a stunning fingertip save to turn Bryan Mbeumo’s stoppage-time thunderbolt onto the bar. He looked composed as United could only muster 0.30 xGOT from their shots on target.
Josh Acheampong – 7.5
The 20-year-old continues to play like he has been there for a decade. He was composed, read the game well, and intercepted at the right times. He hardly gave Matheus Cunha a clean sight of goal. His composure was key for a defence missing Reece James and Maxence Lacroix.
Wesley Fofana – 6
I get tired of watching Fofana play sometimes. In a nervous 20 minutes, he was absurdly sloppy with the ball twice to give Amad Diallo some clean runs in front of goal. He doesn’t get lower than a six because he redeemed himself with a smart block and a header back across goal from a corner that came off the post via a Caicedo deflection. He also won a penalty when Lisandro Martínez elbowed him in the face.
Levi Colwill – 7
You won’t be making a highlight reel out of this performance, but that is what centre-backs do. He won his aerial duels, cleaned up behind Fofana and helped limit United to just five shots on target across the 90-plus minutes. His calmness helped us keep our only clean sheet at home this season.
Marco Palestra – 6.5
The Italian did the job without ever really threatening going forward. A solid performance from him. He held his side upfield, provided width going forward, and was subbed off in the 74th minute as the game was won. Some fans wanted him to start weeks ago, and this first start hasn’t hurt that cause.
Roméo Lavia – 8
Our most underrated player made the most important pass of the game: his pass to Rogers set up the opener. In the first seven minutes, he had already tried his luck from distance after seeing Senne Lammens off his line. He is beginning to show the potential that Chelsea fans have been searching for.
Moisés Caicedo – 7
Once the game opened up after the break, there was never any doubt about our midfield. He almost gave us the lead in the 42nd minute when Fofana’s header came back off the post after deflecting off him. However, it would probably have been cancelled for handball, as it came off his wrist. He was beaten once in the first half by Amad, but made up for it with his pressing.
Estêvão – 8
Please tell Xabi Alonso what we can see. The Brazilian had the most shots and the most touches in the box of anyone on the pitch, and was joint-top for chances created, in his first league start of the season. He had two goals disallowed for offside, both by the finest of margins. Stamford Bridge applauded him off when he was substituted. That boy is world-class.
Cole Palmer – 8
Palmer hit his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea in 105 games, making him the third fastest Chelsea player to do so behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Diego Costa. He pushed us forward to set up Estêvão’s disallowed goal and generally controlled the final third. He should have had more than one, failing to convert good chances in the 80th minute and again in stoppage time.
Morgan Rogers – 8.5
This is why we paid the money. Rogers received Lavia’s pass and ran through Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez like cones. He calmly chipped over Lammens to add to his tally of six direct involvements in the league this season, and 10 in all competitions.
Pedro Neto – 6.5
A busy but inaccurate performance. He worked hard but didn’t find the goal that all his running deserved. He forced the save that led to Estêvão’s first disallowed goal and went close again just before the break. He was subbed off on 87′.
Subs – 6.5
Pep Chavarría came on on 74 minutes and tidied up the left. Malo Gusto, Danny Welbeck and Valentín Barco came on around 87 minutes. Geovany Quenda came on for Cole Palmer in the closing stages.
Xabi Alonso – 7.5
Alonso named the youngest starting XI in the Premier League this season with an average age of about 22.6. He watched them flourish in the game. He made no changes at the break, but whatever was said at half-time worked, because we were ahead within five minutes of the restart.
Chelsea XI vs Man United: Estevao Gets First Premier League Start Under Alonso
Maxence Lacroix Sidelined Until 2027 in Major Chelsea Blow: Reports
Xabi Alonso Says Premier League Is Chelsea’s Main Competition