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Edouard Mendy
A rare error from Mendy went unpunished in the first half as Dwight McNeil fired over after the Chelsea stopper failed to connect with an attempted punch. The 30-year-old was also a little shaky with his kicking but wasn’t wholly troubled by the Clarets. 6
Trevoh Chalobah
Having recovered from the nasty groin injury sustained in the Carabao Cup final, Chalobah returned to the right of the back three but was shaky in the opening period.
However, as the game progressed, he became more assured in possession and was involved in the build-up to one of Chelsea’s goals. 7
Thiago Silva
The Brazilian is timeless. In the first half alone, he made one hugely important interception, won a crucial header, and cleared Wout Weghorst’s shot off the line. And as Chelsea rolled in goal after goal in the second half, he was able to ease through the second period without putting a foot wrong. A class act. 8
Antonio Rudiger
In what was a sluggish first half from Chelsea, Rudiger was the Blues’ biggest attacking threat as he registered three attempts on goal, but only one was on target.
Defensively he was sound and made sure to have a word with Saul when the Spain international was caught out of position. Much like Silva, Rudiger has proved himself a hugely reliable presence in the backline. 8
Reece James
On his first start since December 29, James was a constant outlet for Chelsea down the right, but he wasn’t used enough in the opening 45 minutes.
That changed early into the second period as the academy graduate rifled home the opener and then turned provider for Kai Havertz’s second of the game. How Chelsea have missed him. 9
N’Golo Kante
Barring his standout performance against Lille in the Champions League, Chelsea haven’t seen the best of Kante in 2022, and that continued – to an extent – at Turf Moor. Kante did have a great deal of influence as the Blues were frustrated in the opening 45 minutes.
He did begin to find space after the break and it was he who played the ball into James for Chelsea’s opener. Kante was given the last 20 minutes off with Chelsea in control. 6
Jorginho
Given he started in midweek against Luton, it was a surprise to see Jorginho in the Chelsea side once more, especially at the expense of Mateo Kovacic.
The Italian was on the periphery during the first half and while he did become more active in the second period – one interception stood out, in particular – Jorginho isn’t currently having the same influence on matches he had in 2021. 6
Saul Niguez
Deployed at left wing-back, not his natural role, Saul failed to offer the same attacking threat as James on the opposite flank and his crosses into the box were poor. Did have a hand in Christian Pulisic’s goal, but only after James Tarkowski had guided the Spaniard’s cross into the path of the American. 6
Mason Mount
It’s just not quite happening in the final third at the moment for Chelsea’s 2020/21 Player of the Season, although it’s not for the want of trying as Mount covered a huge amount of ground at Turf Moor.
Yet as the game opened up in the second period, Mount still wasn’t able to make his mark. Perhaps that is because he was dropped a little deeper to help cover the left flank, but he would still have wanted to have a say in the Burnley box. 6
Kai Havertz
Back in the starting XI ahead of Romelu Lukaku once more, Havertz touched the ball just twice in the Burnley box during a frustrating first half.
He came alive after the interval, however, and headed home Chelsea’s second before quickly adding the third after bundling home a James cross.
Havertz is very much in the side ahead of Romelu Lukaku on merit at the moment. 8
Christian Pulisic
The American was quiet in the opening 45 minutes with only a couple of scuttles forward with the ball catching the eye. He was far more involved after the interval and it was his perfectly-flighted left-footed that Havertz nodded home.
Pulisic got on the scoresheet himself later in the half was he slotted home from close range after Tarkowski guided the ball into his path. 8
Substitutes
Mateo Kovacic (for N’Golo Kante, 70)
Ensured Chelsea saw the game out comfortably. 6
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (for Reece James, 70)
Brought on at right wing-back and didn’t see a great deal of the ball. 6
Timo Werner (for Mason Mount, 78)
Didn’t have enough time to make an impact. N/A
