Chelsea Player Ratings as Hull Expose Defensive Problems at Stamford Bridge | OneFootball

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Hull City as Joao Pedro Rescues Blues

Chelsea were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Hull City at Stamford Bridge after another afternoon in which their attacking talent was asked to compensate for defensive uncertainty.

Xabi Alonso’s side had opportunities to take control, and for long stretches they possessed the superior players and greater attacking threat. Hull, though, found weaknesses that Chelsea have yet to eliminate.

Morgan Rogers struck early before Mohamed Belloumi scored twice to turn the match around. Joao Pedro eventually restored parity, but Chelsea could not find the third goal required to complete the recovery.

Rogers Gives Chelsea Perfect Start

Chelsea could scarcely have asked for a better opening.

Hull won an early corner, yet within moments they were watching Rogers race towards the opposite end. Chelsea broke quickly, the ball eventually reaching their £117million summer signing, who fired beyond Konstantinos Tzolakis at the near post.

It continued Rogers’ encouraging start in blue and provided another example of the considerable attacking quality available to Alonso.

Pedro Neto might have doubled the advantage soon afterwards, but Chelsea failed to establish the control that their early goal should have provided.

Hull gradually became more adventurous, particularly when exploiting spaces around Chelsea’s defensive line.

Belloumi Punishes Defensive Errors

Chelsea’s problems arrived through errors rather than sustained Hull dominance.

Jorrel Hato badly misjudged a bouncing ball inside his own penalty area, allowing Belloumi the opportunity to produce an excellent finish into the bottom corner.

Hull’s second exposed Chelsea again.

The Blues failed to deal properly with a corner, Semi Ajayi beating Emiliano Martinez in the air before the loose ball eventually fell to Belloumi. His second goal ensured Hull entered half time with an improbable 2-1 advantage.

For Alonso, the nature of the goals will be particularly frustrating. Chelsea have sufficient attacking talent to trouble almost any Premier League opponent, but those qualities become considerably less valuable when basic defensive situations repeatedly create danger.

Palmer Creates, Joao Pedro Delivers

Chelsea improved after the interval and gradually pushed Hull deeper.

Cole Palmer again became central to their attacking play. Operating from the left, he manufactured the opening Chelsea needed and supplied Joao Pedro inside the area.

The Brazilian finished emphatically into the roof of the net.

Pedro’s influence is becoming increasingly significant. After being named Premier League Player of the Month, he again supplied Chelsea with a decisive contribution when their afternoon threatened to unravel.

Chelsea continued searching for the winner, but Hull survived.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Hull

The draw leaves Alonso with familiar questions. Chelsea’s forward line continues to produce, with Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro already establishing themselves as a formidable combination.

Further back, there remains considerably more work to do.

Hull required relatively few opportunities to score twice at Stamford Bridge. For a Chelsea side with ambitions towards the upper reaches of the Premier League, that vulnerability cannot become a recurring feature.

Emiliano Martinez: 4

Malo Gusto: 4

Wesley Fofana: 5

Levi Colwill: 5

Jorrel Hato: 3

Reece James: 5

Romeo Lavia: 4

Pedro Neto: 6

Cole Palmer: 7

Morgan Rogers: 7

Joao Pedro: 8

Pep Chavarria: 6

Valentin Barco: 6