Mike Penders: After a costly error versus Tottenham, the Belgian keeper kept his cool, delivering a handful of easy saves. Will his composure finally win over the doubters? 7
Josh Acheampong: The youngster looked unsettled early, yet he soon steadied, thwarting a Bruno Fernandes volley with a superb block and growing stronger as the match unfolded. 6
Wesley Fofana: He produced a brilliant clearance from Amad Diallo’s strike but erred twice, allowing the winger to burst forward on the break. A header that clipped Moises Caicedo’s deflection hit the post. He also earned the second‑half penalty. 5
Levi Colwill: While Chelsea’s backline faltered, the England defender stayed clear of glaring mistakes. 6
Marco Palestra: On his first start, the Italian showed good recovery runs, yet the unit’s organization remained sub‑par. 7
Moises Caicedo: He was a driving force in a gritty midfield, giving Chelsea the physical edge in the centre. 6
Romeo Lavia: Frequently the catalyst that eased United’s pressure, his smart passes sparked several counters and he secured the ball for Chelsea’s opener. 7
Pedro Neto: Arguably the most threatening attacker, his finishing fell short, with one chance saved and another blown wide in the first half. 6
Cole Palmer: A muted display, his second‑half penalty lacked conviction. He did attempt a bold strike from his own half, gifting United a major chance. 6
Estevao Willian: After mishandling his first touch, he bounced back, staying lively and unleashing a couple of dangerous shots, two of which were ruled out for offside. His set‑pieces remained consistently high quality. 8
Morgan Rogers: A surprisingly low‑key start turned electric when he broke free, netting a sublime dink in the 50th minute. In my view, Rogers was the standout performer. 8
Subs:
Pep Chavarria (on 71, Palestra): The match was already secured when he entered. 6
Malo Gusto (on 86, Pedro Neto)
Valentin Barco (on 86, Estevao Willian)
Danny Welbeck (on 86, Moises Caicedo)
Geovany Quenda on 90, Cole Palmer) Could his late cameo spark a stronger finish for Chelsea next week?