• CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 6 – Was partially at fault for Leeds’ opener. He came off his line when he might have been better off not committing, and he was rounded by Bamford. Otherwise pretty solid. EPA
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 6 – Was partially at fault for Leeds’ opener. He came off his line when he might have been better off not committing, and he was rounded by Bamford. Otherwise pretty solid. EPA
  • Reece James 7 – Was effective at both ends of the pitch. He delivered a scintillating cross for Giroud to volley home the equaliser, and he was also strong in the air and in the challenge in defence. AFP
    Reece James 7 – Was effective at both ends of the pitch. He delivered a scintillating cross for Giroud to volley home the equaliser, and he was also strong in the air and in the challenge in defence. AFP
  • Kurt Zouma 7 – if Mendy was at fault for the Leeds goal then it could be argued Zouma was too. His hesitation may have caused a bit of confusion. However, he more than made up for it by heading home the winner. Reuters
    Kurt Zouma 7 – if Mendy was at fault for the Leeds goal then it could be argued Zouma was too. His hesitation may have caused a bit of confusion. However, he more than made up for it by heading home the winner. Reuters
  • Thiago Silva 7 – Another classy performance. Was solid at the back and effortless in possession. At one stage, he played a delightful and precise volleyed pass. On another, he made a key block to deny Raphinha. AFP
    Thiago Silva 7 – Another classy performance. Was solid at the back and effortless in possession. At one stage, he played a delightful and precise volleyed pass. On another, he made a key block to deny Raphinha. AFP
  • Ben Chilwell 6 – Showed his propensity for getting forward but was not as his best. Chilwell definitely helps Chelsea attack with pace, but his passing on this occasion was sometimes wayward. AFP
    Ben Chilwell 6 – Showed his propensity for getting forward but was not as his best. Chilwell definitely helps Chelsea attack with pace, but his passing on this occasion was sometimes wayward. AFP
  • Kai Havertz 5 – A poor first half, but Havertz improved in the second and he almost scored with a header, but he sent his effort over when a deft touch probably would have been enough. Overall: gave the ball away too easily too often. EPA
    Kai Havertz 5 – A poor first half, but Havertz improved in the second and he almost scored with a header, but he sent his effort over when a deft touch probably would have been enough. Overall: gave the ball away too easily too often. EPA
  • N’Golo Kante 8 – Back to his best sat in front of the back four. Snuffed out attacks, intercepted passes and quickly started attacks by playing the simple ball. Reuters
    N’Golo Kante 8 – Back to his best sat in front of the back four. Snuffed out attacks, intercepted passes and quickly started attacks by playing the simple ball. Reuters
  • Mason Mount 8 – Another passionate and energetic performance from the attacking midfielder. Never stopped running, was strong in the challenge too, and contributed a number of key passes, including the cross for Zouma’s winner. AFP
    Mason Mount 8 – Another passionate and energetic performance from the attacking midfielder. Never stopped running, was strong in the challenge too, and contributed a number of key passes, including the cross for Zouma’s winner. AFP
  • Hakim Ziyech 6 – Came close to scoring in the first minute when he controlled Thiago Silva’s long pass before driving a low shot straight at Keisler. Was involved in the first goal but limped off soon after. EPA
    Hakim Ziyech 6 – Came close to scoring in the first minute when he controlled Thiago Silva’s long pass before driving a low shot straight at Keisler. Was involved in the first goal but limped off soon after. EPA
  • Olivier Giroud 8 – Came close on several occasions before hitting his fifth goal in two games thanks to his neat movement and deadly finish. Did a lot of work off the ball and certainly boosted his chances of starting more regularly. Reuters
    Olivier Giroud 8 – Came close on several occasions before hitting his fifth goal in two games thanks to his neat movement and deadly finish. Did a lot of work off the ball and certainly boosted his chances of starting more regularly. Reuters
  • Timo Werner 6 – A mixed game. He hit the crossbar when it seemed impossible to miss. He played on the right, and struggled, but still manage to carve out three further goalscoring chances and crossed for Christian Pulisic to tap home at the death. EPA
    Timo Werner 6 – A mixed game. He hit the crossbar when it seemed impossible to miss. He played on the right, and struggled, but still manage to carve out three further goalscoring chances and crossed for Christian Pulisic to tap home at the death. EPA
  • SUB: Christian Pulisic (Ziyech) 7 – Looked bright when he came on and his positive runs caused Leeds a number of problems. Capped a fine performance with a goal late on. Reuters
    SUB: Christian Pulisic (Ziyech) 7 – Looked bright when he came on and his positive runs caused Leeds a number of problems. Capped a fine performance with a goal late on. Reuters
  • SUB: Tammy Abraham (Giroud) N/A – didn’t do a lot wrong when he came on but wasn’t as effective as Giroud when it came to disrupting the Leeds defence. Reuters
    SUB: Tammy Abraham (Giroud) N/A – didn’t do a lot wrong when he came on but wasn’t as effective as Giroud when it came to disrupting the Leeds defence. Reuters
  • Mateo Kovacic (Havertz) 6 – Came on with 23 minutes to go and looked tidy in possession when he had the ball. Reuters
    Mateo Kovacic (Havertz) 6 – Came on with 23 minutes to go and looked tidy in possession when he had the ball. Reuters
  • LEEDS UNITED RATINGS: Illan Meslier 6 – The youngster could do little to keep out Giroud’s equaliser or Zouma’s winner. He got lucky in the first half when a poor pass put Luke Ayling under pressure. He made up for it with a superb triple save in the second half. AFP
    LEEDS UNITED RATINGS: Illan Meslier 6 – The youngster could do little to keep out Giroud’s equaliser or Zouma’s winner. He got lucky in the first half when a poor pass put Luke Ayling under pressure. He made up for it with a superb triple save in the second half. AFP
  • Luke Ayling 6 – A fabulous attacking presence for Leeds who looked a danger when striding forward on the overlap. Had his hands full when battling with Timo Werner throughout, but an otherwise solid performance. Reuters
    Luke Ayling 6 – A fabulous attacking presence for Leeds who looked a danger when striding forward on the overlap. Had his hands full when battling with Timo Werner throughout, but an otherwise solid performance. Reuters
  • Robin Koch N/A – The defender had been short of match fitness coming into this game and the decision failed to pay off as he was replaced by Llorente in the opening 10 minutes. AFP
    Robin Koch N/A – The defender had been short of match fitness coming into this game and the decision failed to pay off as he was replaced by Llorente in the opening 10 minutes. AFP
  • Liam Cooper 5 – Looked like the weak link in the side. Gave the ball away on numerous occasions and was often out of position, like when Giroud equalised. Made some key interceptions, but not consistent enough. EPA
    Liam Cooper 5 – Looked like the weak link in the side. Gave the ball away on numerous occasions and was often out of position, like when Giroud equalised. Made some key interceptions, but not consistent enough. EPA
  • Ezgan Alioski 5 – Substituted with 20 minutes left on the clock, he found it hard when facing Werner or Pulisic and offered very little at either end. Reuters
    Ezgan Alioski 5 – Substituted with 20 minutes left on the clock, he found it hard when facing Werner or Pulisic and offered very little at either end. Reuters
  • Kalvin Phillips 7 – Another classy performance from the midfielder, who delivered the perfect pass to slice open Chelsea’s defence for Bamford’s goal. Enjoyed a tremendous battle with N’Golo Kante. Reuters
    Kalvin Phillips 7 – Another classy performance from the midfielder, who delivered the perfect pass to slice open Chelsea’s defence for Bamford’s goal. Enjoyed a tremendous battle with N’Golo Kante. Reuters
  • Raphinha 6 – Leeds rarely threatened Mendy’s goal but Raphinha came close twice in a matter of seconds. His first effort was blocked by Thiago Silva, his second blazed over the bar. Found space hard to come by. EPA
    Raphinha 6 – Leeds rarely threatened Mendy’s goal but Raphinha came close twice in a matter of seconds. His first effort was blocked by Thiago Silva, his second blazed over the bar. Found space hard to come by. EPA
  • Mateusz Klich 5 – A key part of Bielsa’s system, he was snuffed out by the combination of Kante, Mount and Havertz in the Chelsea midfield. Reuters
    Mateusz Klich 5 – A key part of Bielsa’s system, he was snuffed out by the combination of Kante, Mount and Havertz in the Chelsea midfield. Reuters
  • Stuart Dallas 5 – Dallas played both at the back and in midfield in different phases of the game but looked lost throughout. Like Klich, he struggled against Chelsea’s effective midfield. Reuters
    Stuart Dallas 5 – Dallas played both at the back and in midfield in different phases of the game but looked lost throughout. Like Klich, he struggled against Chelsea’s effective midfield. Reuters
  • Jack Harrison 5 – A quiet game on the left-hand side, as Leeds’ main attacking play came on the other side.. Harrison’s crossing let him down when he did have the ball. AFP
    Jack Harrison 5 – A quiet game on the left-hand side, as Leeds’ main attacking play came on the other side.. Harrison’s crossing let him down when he did have the ball. AFP
  • Patrick Bamford 6 – Gave Leeds the lead with a well taken goal. He managed to evade the oncoming Edouard Mendy to side foot into an empty net but was subsequently well marshalled by Silva and Zouma thereafter. EPA
    Patrick Bamford 6 – Gave Leeds the lead with a well taken goal. He managed to evade the oncoming Edouard Mendy to side foot into an empty net but was subsequently well marshalled by Silva and Zouma thereafter. EPA
  • SUB: Diego Llorente (Koch) 6 – Did OK when he came on, though almost gave the ball away when he miskicked an attempted clearance across the face of his own area. EPA
    SUB: Diego Llorente (Koch) 6 – Did OK when he came on, though almost gave the ball away when he miskicked an attempted clearance across the face of his own area. EPA
  • SUB: Rodrigo (Alioski) 7 – Gave Leeds a bit more of an attacking presence when he came on and though he failed to create any goalscoring chances, he boosted his chances of starting next time around. EPA
    SUB: Rodrigo (Alioski) 7 – Gave Leeds a bit more of an attacking presence when he came on and though he failed to create any goalscoring chances, he boosted his chances of starting next time around. EPA
  • SUB: Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Harrison) 6 – Looked bright on the right-hand side and had calls for a penalty when he was clipped – but didn’t go down – inside the penalty area. AFP
    SUB: Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Harrison) 6 – Looked bright on the right-hand side and had calls for a penalty when he was clipped – but didn’t go down – inside the penalty area. AFP

Olivier Giroud 8, Timo Werner 6; Patrick Bamford 6 - Chelsea v Leeds United player ratings


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Chelsea moved to the top of the Premier League as they came from behind to beat Leeds United 3-1 at home on Saturday, set on their way by a fifth goal in four days from striker Olivier Giroud.

The 34-year-old Frenchman marked his first league start of the season - a reward for his four goals in Chelsea's thrashing of Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday - by stretching to turn in a whipped cross by Reece James in the 27th minute.

That cancelled out a fourth-minute opener for Leeds by Patrick Bamford, once on the Blues' books but who never made a first-team appearance. He latched on to a long ball by Kalvin Phillips and rounded goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to score.

Chelsea created most of the chances and went ahead in the 61st minute when Zouma jumped higher than everyone to power a Mason Mount corner down and into the net.

Christian Pulisic sealed the win in added time when he turned in a cross by Timo Werner.