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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Chelsea player ratings vs Tottenham: Sarr shines, Silva class, Hudson-Odoi steps up, Mount stars

Kepa Arrizabalaga

With Edouard Mendy at the African Cup of Nations, Kepa has had an opportunity to catch the eye. He has done so and his performance against Spurs this afternoon was yet another positive.

The Spaniard didn't have too much to deal with but when he was called upon, he was a certain presence, which was evidenced by his late save from Harry Kane.

Kepa may not usurp Mendy any time soon but he has certainly reminded other clubs of his ability. 7

Cesar Azpilicueta

This may prove Azpilicueta's final season as a Chelsea player – and if that is the case, he will leave as a club legend. The Spaniard isn't quite as mobile as in years past and has perhaps lost a fraction of his pace but he can still be called upon to produce solid if not spectacular performances.

The 32-year-old was a little sloppy in possession during the game but didn't allow Tottenham's attackers room to fashion chances for Kane, barring the goal that the Tottenham talisman had ruled out. 7

Thiago Silva

There is very little left to say about Silva. But quite simply, at 37 years old, the Brazilian is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

Silva is never flustered under pressure nor caught out positionally. He did receive a yellow card in the first half but that came because he halted a Tottenham counter.

The defender has also developed a habit of scoring key goals. That was again the case this afternoon as he glanced home Mason Mount's second-half free-kick to put Chelsea two goals ahead. 8

Antonio Rudiger

The notion that Rudiger can't play in a back four has been put to bed over the last few weeks. His limited aggression is the perfect complement for Silva's calmness. They are an effective centre-back duo.

This was the typical Rudiger performance in that there was robust defending, well-timed challenges, and one surge forward up that caught the home supporters off their feet. 7

Malang Sarr

Once Tuchel opted to utilise a back four, the one big decision he had to make was who started at left-back. He opted for Sarr and wasn't let down by the French defender.

Sarr not only was reliable in possession but his recovery pace was required on a couple of occasions to deny Steve Bergwijn – and later Lucas Moura – the opportunity to counter for Tottenham.

If Tuchel is to continue with this shape after the international break, Sarr may have edged ahead of Alonso in the left-back pecking order. 8

Jorginho

The Italian was used as the deepest of Chelsea's three midfielders; it's not a position he is likely to occupy on too many occasions based on previous comments from Tuchel. "He lacks, if you isolate him or watch him separately, the pure physical ability that makes him the number one candidate to be a number six in the Premier League," the German said earlier this season.

That was evident on a couple of occasions in the first half as Tottenham players were able to breeze beyond Jorginho and accelerate attacks. With the ball, though, 29-year-old was tidy and helped Chelsea sustain possession in the Spurs half.

After the interval, Jorginho was far less exposed as Chelsea opened up a lead. He dropped into defence when needed to help move the ball forward and pressed when there was a chance. 7

Mateo Kovacic

Back in the starting XI, Kovacic brought an energy that Chelsea lacked in midweek. He pressed, he harried, and he made runs behind Matt Doherty that gave Hudson-Odoi space to receive possession.

The Croatian wasn't quite as effective as Mount on the opposite side of the pitch but he ensured Chelsea dominated midfield alongside the academy graduate and Jorginho. 7

Mason Mount

It was clear inside the opening minute of the contest that Mount was refreshed by the two days off Tuchel gave his squad after the draw at Brighton. Used as a number eight, the 23-year-old surged forward and fashioned a chance for Romelu Lukaku, who fired over.

Mount was a constant threat with his runs into the left channel from deep and fashioned another good chance for Lukaku that wasn't taken by the Belgian forward.

His efforts were rewarded after the break, however, as it was Mount's free-kick that Silva glanced home to double Chelsea's advantage. 8

Hakim Ziyech

After his goal in midweek against Brighton, it wasn't a huge surprise to see Ziyech start. That he did on the right of a front three wasn't expected, though.

The system change brought the best out of the 28-year-old. In the first half, Ziyech continuously exchanged positions with Mount and forced Lloris into a smart stop with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

But the Moroccon went one better after the interval as he whipped a glorious shot into the top corner from 20 yards. It was a sumptuous strike. After the restart, Ziyech came close to a second after he rasped a shot goalwards; Lloris saved on that occasion. 8

Callum Hudson-Odoi

Deployed on the left of the front three, the academy graduate saw plenty of the ball in the opening period. Yet Hudson-Odoi was initially hesitant to take on Japhet Tanganga and his threat was limited as a result.

However, as the game progressed, and under instruction from Tuchel, the 21-year-old started to go down the line against the Spurs defender and it paid off.

Tanganga was shown a yellow card for hauling down Hudson-Odoi in the first half and that meant he was cautious in the second. That allowed the Chelsea winger to flourish and it was his run and square pass that gave Ziyech time to curl his wonderful shot home. 8

Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea needed a decisive performance from their club-record signing after an ineffective outing against Brighton in midweek. It didn't quite happen. Lukaku was provided with a good chance inside the opening minute by Mount but skewed his half volley well over the crossbar.

Later in the opening period, the England international again found the striker in the Tottenham penalty area yet he failed to make clean contact and the chance was wasted.

Lukaku did do better in the second period as he worked Lloris after a nice turn against Davinson Sanchez but there is still a feeling Chelsea have yet to see the best of the 28-year-old. 7

Substitutes

N'Golo Kante (for Jorginho, 73)

Introduced to help Chelsea see out the game, Kante was a little sloppy in position but played his role as expected. 6

Marcos Alonso (for Callum Hudson-Odoi, 87)

No time to make an impact. N/A

Saul Niguez (for Hakim Ziyech, 90)

Given stoppage time to stretch his legs. N/A

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