Perfect 10 for Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva 8, Timo Werner 7; Rhian Brewster 5: Chelsea v Sheffield United player ratings

Moroccan's masterclass in 4-1 triumph for Blues

CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy, 6 – Though he conceded his first Premier League goal, which he could do very little about, he had very little to do. AP

Reece James, 8 – James was solid at the back, but it was his ability to get forward and cause United problems that impressed most.
 EPA

Kurt Zouma, 8 – Zouma continues to develop a strong partnership alongside Thiago Silva and seems to be benefitting from the Brazilian’s experience. Gave very little away after a shaky start.
 AFP

Thiago Silva, 8 – His understanding and reading of the game makes him look so assured. Looked class tonight, and scored with a powerful header.
 AP

Ben Chilwell, 7 – Chilwell will have busier evenings in defence, but he continues to attack with vigour. His bravery paid off when he scored Chelsea’s second at the back post from a Ziyech free-kick.
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Mateo Kovacic, 7 – Had a chance to score a goal that his performance deserved, but it was his run between United’s lines that enabled him to get the ball to Abraham for Chelsea to level the scores.
 AP

N’Golo Kante, 7 – Kante was superb, winning the ball and keeping possession. He was pulled out of position when United scored, but other than that didn’t put a foot wrong. PA

Mason Mount, 7 – Mount’s range of cross-field passing was superb and his energy helped drive Chelsea forward throughout. PA

Hakim Ziyech, 10 – Ziyech was involved in three of the four goals and was Chelsea’s standout player. He found Kovacic with a delicious ball for the first, crossed to Chilwell for the second, and again for Silva and Chelsea’s third. AP

Tammy Abraham, 7 – Took his goal well and looked solid leading the line, holding the ball up and linking well with Ziyech and Werner. AP

Timo Werner, 7 – Had a slow start to the game but exploded into the life late on, first with a clever lob that drifted inches wide of the post, and then with a shot that added Chelsea’s fourth. EPA

SUBS: Jorginho, N/A – Came on with 19 minutes remaining and kept possession well. A neat cameo.

Olivier Giroud, N/A – The French striker got a three-minute run out and didn’t have much of a chance to get involved. PA

SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale, 6 – Could do little about Abraham’s effort but made a superb save to deny Ziyech’s free-kick shortly afterwards. Made some good saves but was at fault when he failed to collect a Hakim Ziyech free-kick, which Ben Chilwell punished.
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Chris Basham, 7 – The defender put in a big performance and was the standout player on the right on a disappointing night when defensive mistakes around him proved costly.
 Reuters

John Egan, 6 – He left Abraham unmarked for Chelsea’s equaliser but he had the better of his opponent throughout. Made a outstanding last-ditch challenge in the second half.
 AP

Enda Stevens, 6 – A solid outing, though a wayward header early in the second half could have proved costly.

George Baldock, 5 – His combined well with Norwood from a corner to catch Chelsea off guard, which helped give his side the lead. Looked dangerous when crossing.
 Reuters

Sander Berge, 6 – Couldn’t match his usual standards but still impressed and it was from his shot that McGoldrick turned the ball into the net to give United the lead.
 PA

Oliver Norwood, 5 – He enjoyed a good first half and was involved in the goal, but he lost his way in the second half.
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John Lundstram, 5 – He failed to get into the game and though he was full of running, he just couldn’t find a way to get involved.
 Reuters

Max Lowe, 5 – Was forced to play deep thanks to Chelsea’s approach and though he did well to track Kovacic for the most part, he couldn’t clear his lines when Chelsea added a fourth.
 AP

Rhian Brewster, 5 – The young forward had a very quiet game and simply couldn’t make an impact.
 Reuters

David McGoldrick, 5 – Found himself in the right place in the right time to deflect Berge’s shot into the goal with a neat flick. A strong start, but faded afterwards. AP

SUBS: Oli McBurnie, 5 – The striker came on to try and chase the game but he made very little impact in the final third. EPA

Ben Osborn, 5 – Came on to replace Norwood but couldn’t affect the game positively.

Manager Frank Lampard believes Hakim Ziyech has added a new dimension to Chelsea's attack after the Moroccan international's masterful performance in Saturday's 4-1 Premier League win against Sheffield United.

Ziyech, who joined Chelsea from Ajax Amsterdam in the close-season for a reported 40 million euros ($48 million), was a constant threat to the United defence as he helped Lampard's side move into third in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old winger has scored twice and provided three assists in seven games in all competitions, and Lampard said he was impressed by how quickly Ziyech has settled.

"He's a top-class player," Lampard said. "He's had a long time out since the Dutch league finished and then he had an injury, so to hit ground running the way he has is a huge plus for us.

"He has given us an extra edge and a different threat. He has an ability to find the last pass or cross, make assists and break teams that have a low block down. He sees the pass and has no fear to try it.

"He exudes confidences in how much he wants to receive the ball and be the important player. He also has great work ethic so he is a complete player. He's been a big plus and I expect there is a lot more to come from him."

Goals by Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Timo Werner helped Chelsea overwhelm bottom side United, but Lampard has warned his players to guard against complacency.

"It was our best performance of the season. We are in a good place, but the level set by Manchester City and Liverpool in the last few years means we have to be in that place every game," he added.