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Chelsea player ratings vs Brighton: ONE star gets a FIVE as Sarri tactics cause problem
CHELSEA player ratings vs Brighton: Chelsea stars rated by Express Sport after 3-0 Stamford Bridge win.
Chelsea: Blues 'deserved to win' says Maurizio Sarri
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri praised Callum Hudson-Odoi for his role in Chelsea’s victory over the Seagulls.
The 18-year-old made his Premier League debut on Wednesday and had a hand in supplying Olivier Giroud to open the scoring after 38 minutes.
Sarri admitted he was lucky to have so many players to choose from as Chelsea navigated a congested fixture schedule.
However, it wasn’t a good night for N'Golo Kante, who once again found himself played out of position.
The Frenchman occupied the right, with Jorginho taking a central role, but Sarri’s tactical tweaks were not exploited by Brighton.
In a new-look side, Ruben Loftus-Cheek played and finished the night with an assist and a goal.
After 60 minutes the midfielder supplied Eden Hazard with a pass which the Belgian curled home from the edge of the box.
And then three minutes later Loftus-Cheek grabbed a goal for himself after hitting a 25-yard scorcher into the top corner.
Chelsea player ratings
Kepa - 7
Did not have a save to make in a one-sided match
Azpilicueta - 6
Chelsea captain was able to get forward from his right-back position
Christensen - 6
Danish centre-back had a steady game in a rare appearance
Luiz - 6
Had the time to spray the ball about from the back
Emerson - 7
Cup specialist made just his fifth Premier League start at left-back
Kante - 5
Tried his best to burst forward but at his best when recovering the ball
Jorginho - 7
The central cog in the Sarri system spread play nicely
Loftus-Cheek - 7
Finally got further forward to stick goal of the night into the top corner
Hudson-Odoi - 7
Every touch rapturously received by Chelsea faithful on his full league debut
Giroud - 7
Scored his 15th goal of the season – and only his second in the Premier League
Hazard - 7
Capped energetic display with classy goal to end contest on the hour
Substitutes
Davide Zappacosta - 5
Didn't have much impact on the game when he came on with a Brighton getting a few more chances down the right after his introduction
Mateo Kovacic - 5
Had very little time to impact proceeding after coming on with around ten minutes left in the tie for Loftus-Cheek
Willian - 5
Came on with seven minutes left giving him no time to have an impact on the match
Unused subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Barkley, Higuain