Chelsea slip out of the Premier League’s top four with a 1-0 defeat against bottom side Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The only goal of the game came from a penalty in the 36th minute from Enzo Le Fée after Levi Colwill was punished for bringing down Brian Brobbey.
Despite having 69% of possession, Xabi Alonso’s side posted a low xG of 0.53 compared to the Black Cats’ 2.55. Cole Palmer also saw a penalty appeal in the first half waved away by VAR.
Here is a player-by-player review for Chelsea on a frustrating afternoon.
Mike Penders (GK) – 6.5/10
The Belgian was handed the starting spot ahead of Emiliano Martinez, who was left out of the squad. He was caught wrong-footed from the spot-kick but made a strong save from Luke O’Nien despite the flag being up. Penders then blocked Wilson Isidor’s close-range effort with his chest to keep Chelsea in the game.
Marco Palestra (RB) – 5/10
Palestra suffered early on as Chemsdine Talbi targeted him. Within the first 18 minutes, Talbi was able to cross into the box twice, one of which should have been tapped in by Brobbey. The Italian looked more comfortable going forward, and his byline cross led to Morgan Rogers’ best chance of the first half. He was replaced by Malo Gusto shortly after the hour mark.
Wesley Fofana (CB) – 6/10
Fofana was caught out by Brobbey to create the chance which the Dutchman fired over the bar in the 28th minute. He improved during the second half, winning a number of duels against the striker. However, he was caught out by a slide tackle in the 77th minute, allowing Isidor to run onto the ball. The centre-back also received a yellow card late in the game for dissent.
Levi Colwill (CB) – 3/10
Colwill had a terrible afternoon against Brobbey. The striker was able to beat him physically on a number of occasions before the penalty. While the decision did look harsh, as both players were tugging at each other’s shirts, the England defender put himself in a poor position and conceded the penalty. He was shown a yellow card and was replaced at the break.
Pep Chavarria (LB) – 5/10
Chavarria made an important early block to Trai Hume’s strike after Talbi broke down the left. He got forward a lot and linked up well with Rogers but failed to find any teammates with his crosses. He was shown a yellow card after fouling Hume early in the second half in a scuffle. The Spaniard was replaced by Geovany Quenda on 79 minutes.
Romeo Lavia (DM) – 5/10
Lavia was often dropping back between the centre-backs to create a three-man line during build-up. He was safe with the ball but rarely played the forward passes needed to break the block. The midfielder also saw a 25-yard strike fly wide just before half-time. He had a late scare after a deflected shot hit his arm.
Moises Caicedo (CM) – 7/10
The Ecuadorian was Chelsea’s most consistent player. He broke up the play well and helped win the ball back in midfield. After Colwill was taken off, Caicedo moved into the backline and adapted well to the new position. He also picked up his first yellow card of the season after clipping Isidor on the counter in the 76th.
Jordan Henderson (CM) – 5/10
Henderson sat just in front of the backline and was very safe with the ball. The Sunderland academy graduate stepped in to cool heads during the second-half scuffle. He received a warm reception from both sets of fans as he was replaced by Emmanuel Emegha on 87 minutes.
Cole Palmer (RW) – 5/10
Palmer was Chelsea’s most likely creator but was often dropping back to collect the ball. He had a strong claim to be fouled after being sandwiched by O’Nien and Noah Sadiki, but VAR decided the contact was outside the box. He was also well shut out by the hosts and lacked power with his late header from the near post.
Pedro Neto (ST) – 4/10
Neto was deployed as a false nine to cover for Joao Pedro’s absence, but it didn’t work. The Portuguese failed to make a single touch in the box, and his shot in the 45th minute was easily saved by Roefs. He received a yellow card for dissent and was replaced by Danny Welbeck on 62 minutes.
Morgan Rogers (LW) – 5/10
Rogers missed a great chance to open the scoring after heading Palestra’s cross wide from just outside the six-yard box. He also missed with a floated free-kick just before half-time. He worked hard in the second half and played in Estevao in the 61st minute but had an inconsistent final pass.
Estevao (Sub 46′ for Colwill) – 6.5/10
Estevao was the most lively attacker for Chelsea after coming on at half-time. The Brazilian was denied by Thomas Meunier’s block before playing Palmer through in the 83rd minute. He also took the free-kick in stoppage time, which should have been scored by Welbeck. He made a strong case for a starting spot.
Malo Gusto (Sub 62′ for Palestra) – 6/10
Gusto provided more width than Palestra and created a number of dangerous crosses into the box. His best moment came in the 74th minute, when he tried to chip over Roefs, but the goalkeeper ran back to claim on his line. He also won a late foul after being pulled down by Nilson Angulo.
Danny Welbeck (Sub 62′ for Neto) – 4/10
Welbeck brought more physicality to the attack but failed to make an impact in the box. He missed a cross from Chavarria shortly after coming on. The former Sunderland loanee also missed with a header from Estevao’s free-kick in the 92nd minute.
Geovany Quenda (Sub 79′ for Chavarria) – 6/10
Quenda made an immediate impact after coming on. He took on Meunier before shooting low just wide of the far post after a slight deflection. He then played a dangerous low cross from the left shortly after. The Portuguese winger looked sharper than a number of the starters.
Emmanuel Emegha (Sub 87′ for Henderson) – N/A
Emegha came on with three minutes of normal time left as Chelsea pushed for an equaliser. The striker quickly won the loose ball but was wiped out on the break by O’Nien, who was shown a yellow card. He didn’t play long enough to get a fair rating.
Xabi Alonso (Manager) – 4/10
Alonso’s decision to play Neto as a false nine again didn’t work against a physical Sunderland side. He made changes at half-time, with Estevao coming on and Caicedo moving into defence. However, Quenda and Emegha came on too late to make a difference. The low xG (0.53) suggests they never found a reliable way through.
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