Chelsea finished the year with a positive result, securing a 3-2 victory over Luton Town in the Premier League.
The match saw Cole Palmer take advantage of Issa Kaboré’s momentary lapse in concentration to score the opener, followed by Noni Madueke’s goal before the break.
Palmer sealed the win with a composed finish in the 70th minute, but Luton Town scored twice in the final minutes, with former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo finding the back of the net.
Despite the win, Chelsea remains in 10th place in the league table. However, they are now only one point behind Newcastle United, who are in ninth place and set to face Liverpool on New Year’s Day.
Positives
Chelsea demonstrated their ability to handle the unique challenge of playing at Kenilworth Road by matching Luton Town’s physicality and dealing with their aerial threat. The Blues showcased their clinical finishing, with all three goals taken brilliantly and at crucial moments in the game.
Negatives
Chelsea’s defence collapsed after conceding their first goal, which came from a corner and could have been handled better. The team’s performance was disappointing, and their fans would have preferred to see less of former player Barkley, who scored for Luton.
Manager Rating
Mauricio Pochettino received a rating of 7 for his coaching performance in the game against Chelsea. He boldly decided to start Madueke, which paid off when the winger scored the second goal for his team. Despite Chelsea’s solid defence, Pochettino’s team kept the game close. However, the coach may still be disappointed that his side did not come away with a win. Pochettino’s tactics and team selection were effective, earning him a respectable rating.
Player Ratings (1-10; 10 = Best, Players Introduced After 70 Minutes Get No Rating)
In a match that saw Chelsea dominate Luton Town, the players put up an impressive performance. Here are the ratings for each player:
- GK Djordje Petrovic, 6 — Petrovic had a comfortable game with his feet and made a crucial save on Carlton Morris’ attempt. However, he dropped Alfie Doughty’s cross but held it at the second attempt.
- DF Malo Gusto, 7 — Gusto used his body brilliantly when defending against Doughty for most of the game but struggled against him in the latter periods. He made some excellent forays forward, with one run helping to create space for Madueke’s goal. However, some of his passing was off in the second period, and he was booked for time wasting.
- DF Axel Disasi, 6 — Disasi provided a real presence when defending balls into the box for most of the game and got his head on to potentially dangerous balls. However, he struggled in the latter stages.
- DF Thiago Silva, 8 — Silva used his experience to take up some superb positions and deal with Luton’s threat from crosses. He also played some lovely balls forward.
- DF Levi Colwill, 6 — Colwill did a good job defensively against Kabore and Andros Townsend, while he also made a run forward and played the ball to Palmer in the build-up to Chelsea’s second.
- MF Moisés Caicedo, 7 — Caicedo had some sloppy moments in the first half but played a lovely ball forward in the build-up to Chelsea’s second goal and blocked Jacob Brown’s shot in the box.
- MF Conor Gallagher, 6 — Gallagher put in a determined display and took a knock when blocking Brown’s shot. He wasn’t completely convincing in the opposition box.
- MF Cole Palmer, 9 — Palmer was the star of the match, clinically scoring the opener, providing the assist for Madueke to score the second, and showing superb composure for the third. He also worked hard for the team and pressed well at times.
- MF Noni Madueke, 7 — Madueke backed himself to score despite attention from Amari’i Bell and Doughty, taking his goal superbly. He often gave Doughty problems with his attacking play but also put in good defensive work to help Gusto at the other end. However, he was quieter in the second period and couldn’t get his shot on target.
- FW Nicolas Jackson, 7 — Jackson endured his struggles and had an intriguing battle with Teden Mengi but was persistent, doing well to set up Palmer for the Blues’ third. He also helped out his defence in the final moments.
- FW Armando Broja, 6 — Broja provided good hold-up and link-up play in the first half, while he was unlucky not to see anyone meet his ball across goal. However, he was quieter in the second period.
Overall, the Chelsea players put up an impressive performance, with Palmer being the standout player of the match.
Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
The substitutes introduced by the team did not have a significant impact on the match. Christopher Nkunku, who replaced Broja in the 62nd minute, struggled to make a notable contribution while Luton dominated the attack. Enzo Fernández, who replaced Madueke in the 81st minute, looked weak and was easily bypassed occasionally. Alfie Gilchrist, who returned Palmer in the 91st minute, made a crucial tackle on Doughty in the match’s final moments. However, he did not have enough time to impact the game significantly.
