Rogers and Palmer Shine as Chelsea Overpower United
Morgan Rogers continued to impress for Chelsea, netting his sixth goal since his record £117 million transfer from Aston Villa. Alongside Cole Palmer, who scored from the spot, Chelsea celebrated a solid 2-0 win at home against a 10-man Manchester United.
The action kicked off in the second half when Rogers broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Shortly after, United’s Lisandro Martinez received his marching orders for a reckless challenge that led to a penalty, expertly converted by Palmer.
A look at the player ratings from BBC Sport reveals how the players performed under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s keeper Mike Penders was under scrutiny following a previous blunder, but he managed a composed display with several routine saves, earning himself a score of 7.
Young defender Josh Acheampong had a shaky start but rebounded impressively, making a crucial block against Bruno Fernandes. He ended up with a rating of 6.
Wesley Fofana had a mixed game, making a fantastic block but also getting caught out defensively. His header nearly found the net but ultimately left him with a rating of 5.
Levi Colwill didn’t make any glaring mistakes, contributing to a lackluster defensive performance with a rating of 6.
Marco Palestra, making his debut, showed promise with some good recovery runs but was part of a defense that struggled early on, receiving a 7.
Moises Caicedo held his own in a tough midfield battle, helping to establish Chelsea’s physical presence and earned a 6 for his efforts.
Romeo Lavia stood out, orchestrating play and winning the ball that led to Chelsea’s opener, which garnered him a score of 7.
Pedro Neto was lively but lacked finishing prowess, leaving him with a 6 after some missed opportunities.
Cole Palmer had a quieter game than usual, converting a penalty but also giving away a chance to United, which resulted in a rating of 6.
Estevao Willian had a lively performance, despite a shaky start. He was active in attack, seeing two goals ruled out for offside, and was rated an impressive 8.
Rogers, who had a slow start, found his rhythm and struck with a brilliant finish to secure his 8 rating.
Substitutes included Pep Chavarria, who entered the fray late with a score of 6, while other substitutes like Malo Gusto and Valentin Barco did not significantly impact the game.
On the United side, goalkeeper Senne Lammens had a solid performance after an early scare, finishing with a 7.
Leny Yoro's pace was crucial in dealing with Chelsea's counter-attacks, earning him a 7, while Harry Maguire was mostly reliable but couldn’t prevent Rogers' goal, also receiving a 7.
Lisandro Martinez's afternoon turned sour after his red card, resulting in a dismal score of 3. Diogo Dalot, playing out of position, managed a 6 for his efforts.
Andrey Santos came close to scoring but had a tough time in the second half, rated at 5, while Carlos Baleba had a promising first half but struggled later, also scoring a 5.
Amad Diallo was one of the brighter spots for United, testing Penders and earning a 7, while Bruno Fernandes, although better than recent performances, fell short of the mark with a 6.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo contributed but lacked that finishing touch, both receiving ratings of 6.
As the match drew to a close, United’s substitutes struggled to make an impact, and the overall ratings reflected a challenging day for the visitors.
