Chelsea began 2023 with a disappointing 1-1 draw towards Nottingham Forest on the Metropolis Floor on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute, after a ball contested by Willy Boly and Kai Havertz got here again off the woodwork and fell to the ft of the England worldwide to faucet in, though the Blues had been unable to construct on that momentum. Serge Aurier equalised shortly after the hour mark, and the guests had been pressured to accept some extent, which leaves them eighth within the Premier League desk.
Positives
Chelsea constructed up some beautiful passages of play from the very starting, even when they did not all the time result in goal-scoring alternatives. Sterling’s objective got here from the Blues’ first huge probability of the sport, displaying a welcomed medical edge.
Negatives
Regardless of the guests’ constructive play within the early levels, it was Forest attacker Brennan Johnson who created the primary notable alternative. There have been durations when it was far too simple for the hosts to interrupt ahead and get behind Chelsea’s defence, with the second half being particularly regarding as Forest finally obtained degree.
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Supervisor ranking out of 10
Graham Potter, 6 — The supervisor caught with the gamers that had impressed towards Bournemouth, and initially noticed a constructive show from his workforce, however he did not do a lot to alter the sport because it slipped away from Chelsea with an underwhelming second half. His triple change shifted the momentum once more, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to earn a winner.
Participant rankings (1-10; 10 = finest, gamers launched after 70 minutes get no ranking)
GK Kepa Arrizabalaga, 7 — Stood up effectively to avoid wasting Johnson’s shot after the Wales worldwide had damaged by. Made a reasonably comfy save to disclaim Taiwo Awoniyi, then denied Johnson once more moments later. Was given no probability when he was finally crushed.
DF Cesar Azpilicueta, 5 — Put in an ideal block to disclaim Morgan Gibbs-White and had a shot of his personal from vary deflected extensive. Struggled within the second half as he could not sustain with Johnson when he ran behind, then obtained booked for a foul on Renan Lodi. Could not get shut sufficient to Aurier to disclaim the equaliser.
DF Kalidou Koulibaly, 4 — Moved the ball impressively within the first half, organising possibilities for Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic. Nevertheless, he actually struggled to cope with Awoniyi, particularly when he was pressured into wider areas.
DF Thiago Silva, 7 — Confirmed his expertise by expertly chopping out Awoniyi’s cross and halting Gibbs-White’s burst ahead. Additionally performed some formidable passes to make life awkward for Forest’s defenders.
DF Marc Cucurella, 6 — Did effectively to maintain Johnson from navigating into the channels in a reasonably strong defensive show, and was additionally concerned in some good link-up play with Pulisic.
MF Denis Zakaria, 6 — Had his persistence examined by Ryan Yates however continued to place in a formidable first-half show in the course of the pitch, particularly when holding off the opposition. Nevertheless, he could not have the identical affect after the break.
MF Jorginho, 6 — Performed some good passes, together with one to Sterling within the build-up to an opportunity for Mount, however there have been occasions the place he was too simply taken out of the sport.
MF Mason Mount, 7 — The previous Derby County loanee wasn’t afraid to get entangled within the combative facet of the sport, though he additionally confirmed high quality with a wonderfully weighted go to Pulisic within the build-up to the opener. Made an ideal block to disclaim Gibbs-White.
FW Raheem Sterling, 7 — Wasn’t all the time on the identical wavelength as his teammates within the early levels however picked out Mount effectively within the field, then scored the opener with a medical end. Was dispossessed by Boly then gave away a free kick on the sting of his personal field as he light out of the sport.
FW Kai Havertz, 5 — Dropped deep to hyperlink play properly and confirmed good presence at occasions, however he was responsible of offering a free contact within the field on a few events to waste promising openings. His unconvincing header made issues tough for Forest’s equaliser.
FW Christian Pulisic, 6 — Typically gave Forest’s defenders actual issues at any time when he obtained them right into a one-on-one state of affairs, beating Joe Worrall with ease and delivering the cross that led to the opener, whereas Aurier additionally struggled towards him. Hit a weak shot from a promising place and was outjumped by Boly for the equaliser.
Substitutes
MF Mateo Kovacic, 5 — Changed Zakaria within the 61st minute and wasn’t in a position to do something to maintain Forest from equalising simply two minutes later.
FW Hakim Ziyech, N/R — Seemed almost definitely to make issues occur, delivering a beautiful cross that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not convert.
MF Conor Gallagher, N/R — Instantly regarded to get on the ball upon his introduction, taking part in some good passes ahead, however to no avail.
FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, N/R — Tried to make issues occur however did not hit the goal along with his header from Ziyech’s beautiful cross.
FW Carney Chukwuemeka, N/R —Could not discover a means to assist Chelsea to a winner after his late introduction.
