Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City, Premier League: statistical review and analysis

You’re welcome, Liverpool.

Overview

Saying that Chelsea beat Manchester City by sitting deep and absorbing pressure would be an understatement. This was a performance straight out of José Mourinho’s playbook, strategically choosing moments to hurt the opposition and doing it successfully.

Despite not having the ball, Chelsea dictated procedures and had complete control of the game, except for two game patches.

After the first 20 minutes, Chelsea grew in the game and Christian Pulisic’s goal was the culmination of our sustained threat at the counter. Even without Pulisic’s goal, Chelsea had more shots, shots on goal and shots inside the box than Man City in the first half.

A questionable foul by N’Golo Kanté led to Kevin de Bruyne’s draw, although Chelsea had every right to be upset to concede the goal by being in control of the game. We were almost forced to pay more for our naivete minutes later, when City exploited our tendency to engage too many men in the corners.

Woodworking came to Chelsea’s rescue perhaps for the first time this season.

After the Raheem Sterling foul, however, it was generally one-way traffic. City had more ball, but all the good opportunities came from Chelsea.

Mason Mount did well to retrieve a pass from Ederson and should have hit the target. Kyle Walker’s stunts denied Pulisic a second goal before Fernandinho resorted to volleyball tactics to prevent Tammy Abraham from scoring.

Unlike Chelsea’s home game against Manchester United, VAR took note of Chelsea’s pleas and awarded a penalty that Willian quickly converted.

---

Statistics

The PPDA and deep endings have been taken from Understat. Other fbref statistics.

---

Individual performances

Frank Lampard

I got the team from a tactical perspective. Chelsea’s best attacking performances this season (Newcastle, Brighton and Everton at home and Arsenal’s second half at home) have had a midfield consisting of Mason Mount, Ross Barkley and a defensive midfielder.

Defensively, the team was rock solid for the most part and did an exceptional job avoiding De Bruyne (32 touches in the last third, 12 lower than this seasonal average) and Bernardo Silva (13 finishing touches in 54 minutes, more lower than his average of 39.4 final finishing touches per 90) since accessing the ball in dangerous areas.

The team was compact without compromising the effectiveness of the attack. Perhaps the biggest compliment the team can be given is that they were mature, something that cannot be said except in select games like against Ajax (away) and Tottenham.

Choosing Olivier Giroud in the opening XI was perhaps Lampard’s only mistake and even that did not greatly hamper Chelsea’s chances of winning.

SCORE: 9

---

Kepa Arrizabalaga

It came out of a good, although routine, except for Fernandinho at the beginning of the first half. Perhaps it could have been better to avoid the City’s objective, but that will surely be a divisive issue.

You need to eliminate mistakes like the one in the first half that almost led to a goal. His goal in the 1-v-1 situation with Sterling also left a lot to be desired.

CLASSIFICATION: 6.5

---

César Azpilicueta

Gigantic performance of the Chelsea captain. Committed at tackle, smart in choosing his forays forward and confident with the ball. He did a great job shutting down the dangerous Raheem Sterling.

Note statistics: 3 tackles won, 22 pressures, 2 interceptions, 2 punches, 4 aerial duels won and 9 recoveries. He was the leading player or leader of Chelsea in terms of aerial duels won, successful tackles and recoveries. It was the second highest in terms of pressures and interceptions.

SCORE: 8

---

PAUL CHILDS / POOL / AFP photo via Getty Images

Andreas Christensen

You won’t see this writer say this often, but this was a 10/10 performance. Supreme in all respects. If Christensen can maintain this level in the future, it could be the answer to our center’s problems.

Note statistics: 2/2 aerial duels won, 6/6 ground duels won, 3 tackles won, 4 punts, 38 carries, 2 blocks, 3 passes to the last third, 2 game changes, 6 passes under pressure and 11/12 long passes. In all of the above metrics, except pressure passes (third-party set), Christensen was the team’s leader or second-highest player.

SCORE: 10

---

Antonio Rüdiger

An effective and efficient performance from Rüdiger. He kept things simple at the back and was crucial in chaining Bernardo Silva. Perhaps he could have done better by passing the ball vertically, but regardless of a good performance.

Note statistics: 18/21 long passes, 5 free spaces and 32 carries. He was Chelsea’s leading player in the first two metrics, the second highest in carries.

SCORE: 7

---

Marcos Alonso

He was expected to fight the complicated Riyad Mahrez, but managed to defend himself. He didn’t offer his usual threat in the future, but he did a great job of staying disciplined and maintaining his position.

Note statistics: 2 passes in the box, 9 passes under pressure and 3 blocks. It was the highest or highest on all three metrics.

CLASSIFICATION: 6.5

---

Photo by Adrian Dennis / Pool via Getty Images

N’Golo Kanté

This game was widely viewed as the litmus test of Kanté as a lone midfielder and he did a commendable job. He’ll have better games on the ball in the future, but his defensive hustle was crucial in blocking passes and keeping things tight. He conceded a silly foul that led to De Bruyne’s equalizer but it was solid, if not spectacular, otherwise.

Note statistics: 3 interceptions, 9 recoveries, 3 punts, 1 block, 9/12 long passes and 2 passes to the last third. She led the team in interceptions and recoveries.

SCORE: 7

---

Mason Mount

It wasn’t as good as it was against Aston Villa, but he played a crucial role alongside Kanté in keeping De Bruyne silent. He sacrificed his attacking instincts for the good of the team, although his passing time and selection need to improve.

He also did well to reach the end of a reasonably good opportunity against Ederson, but his shot went wide. He showed excellent self-confidence to be shot with his weak foot, but lacked execution.

Note statistics: 28 pressures, 17 pressures in the midfield, 6 touches in the penalty area, 27 carries and 8 passes under pressure. It was in the top 3 for all of the above metrics.

SCORE: 7

---

Ross Barkley

He was selected over Kovačić because of his understanding of Mount and his ability to occupy defenders in the last third. It kept the game moving, but didn’t offer much in the way of the threat of attack.

CLASSIFICATION: 6

---

Photo by Darren Walsh / Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Willian

He showed why Lampard, Mourinho and almost all the managers he has worked with rate him so highly. He did a great job relieving the pressure and his long range career was a big reason behind our second goal.

His ability to continue driving even in the later stages of the game was outstanding. His usual flaws in decision making were present, but that shouldn’t take the shine off of what was a wonderful performance.

Note statistics: 1 goal, 4 touches in the box, 2 successful pots, 8 passes under pressure, 2 game changes, 2 passes to the last third and 6 progressive passes. It was in the top 2 for all the previous metrics.

SCORE: 8

---

Olivier Giroud

It was chosen to facilitate interaction in the last third and, although it did so at a reasonable level, it lived up to its generally high standards. Also offside too often. He did a good job, not great, overall.

Statistics to highlight: 4 aerial duels won and 6 passes under pressure.

CLASSIFICATION: 6.5

---

Christian Pulisic

If the performance had to be summed up in one word, it would be electric, combining aspects of Raheem Sterling, the man Lampard wants to emulate Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Eden Hazard, the man Pulisic was bought to replace.

Note statistics: 1 goal, 2 great opportunities received, 4 successful pots, 6 touches in the penalty area, 27 carries, 3 progressive passes and 2 passes to the last third. It was in the top 3 for all of the above metrics.

RANKING: 8.5

---

Substitutes:

Photo from Manchester City FC / Manchester City FC via Getty Images

Tammy Abraham

A rather quirky performance by Tammy. His pace made room behind City’s defense and immediately made Chelsea more threatening with the ball. Her ability to find space in the box was also commendable.

However, he seemed to have left his shooting boots at home, missing a reasonable opportunity even before Fernandinho decided to use his hand. That said, none of the possibilities, except one coming from a Willian crossing, was particularly easy.

Note statistics: 3 great opportunities received, 3 great opportunities lost, 3 touches in the penalty area, 3 shots, 12 pressures in 29 minutes.

CLASSIFICATION: 6.5

---

Matthew Kovačić

He was hired primarily to keep the ball and keep playing and did his job effectively. I almost created an opportunity by putting pressure on Gundogan too.

CLASSIFICATION: 6.5

---

Billy Gilmour and Pedro did not play enough to guarantee a rating.

Please let us know in the comments section if you agree or disagree with these ratings. If you have any questions please write them down below or feel free to ask me at @ExpectedChelsea on Twitter.