Joao Felix one of two Chelsea stars in Premier League weekend’s worst XI

Ian Watson
Joao Felix and his Chelsea teammates

Joao Felix is one of two Chelsea players to feature, with the Blues probably grateful that Bournemouth were even more wretched while having their bellies ticked by Manchester City.

Three at the back for this weekend’s worst XI according to WhoScored ratings.

 

GK: Danny Ward – 5.79 
Arsenal fans feel the Leicester keeper was roped into the conspiracy among Premier League officials to stop their title charge when Ben White was adjudged to be holding hands with him before Leandro Trossard thwacked one past him. Ward got away with that one but failed to keep out Gabriel Martinelli’s winner, one of only two shots on target for the Gunners. Still, he’s doing better than Ederson.

 

CB: Joe Worrall – 5.94
The right-sided Forest centre-back was generally solid in the first half at West Ham before the visitors’ defence caved in. Received little protection as Forest wilted but he didn’t help their cause by giving West Ham the ball with two-thirds of his nine attempted long balls. Managed one tackle.

 

CB: Jack Stephens – 5.84
Facing Manchester City just as they look to be getting their groove back is no easy feat but failing to win a single duel is damning on the Bournemouth centre-back.

 

CB: Chris Mepham – 5.84
Mepham was recalled to the Bournemouth side as Gary O’Neil opted to switch to a back five to stop City. It didn’t work, Worse still, the Wales defender put through his own net to give the champions a fourth.

 

RWB: Adam Smith – 5.64
City enjoyed the freedom of the right flank at Bournemouth, where Smith and Dango Outtara (5.77) struggled to get to grips with Jack Grealish and Nathan Ake. Smith was hooked just before the hour mark, along with…

 

LWB: Hakim Ziyech – 5.44
Being crowbarred in here on the left because he couldn’t do it on the right in Chelsea’s miserable defeat at Spurs. Ziyech was fortunate to escape a red card but was hooked anyway after having little impact in open play and losing all but one of his seven duels.

 

CDM: Phillip Billing – 5.02
The Premier League’s lowest-rated player this weekend had a rough 59 minutes against City in an appearance most notable for teeing up Phil Foden for City’s third with an ill-advised square ball along the backline to no one in particular.
Phil Foden celebrates scoring for Man City in their win at Bournemouth.

LAM: Joao Felix – 5.98
Oliver Skipp admitted that Spurs had worked on denying Felix space between the lines and it seemed to work, with the loanee turning in one of the most ineffective displays of his Chelsea career so far. No key passes or successful dribbles while turning over the ball to Tottenham 13 times.

 

RAM: Brennan Johnson – 5.78
Went down perhaps too easily when he thought he had a shout for a first-half penalty at West Ham but overall, Johnson was poor for Forest. He lost possession 17 times, won only three of 13 duels and failed with all but one of six attempted dribbles.

 

CF: Kelechi Ihaenacho – 5.96

That’s damning on Leicester’s frontman, with the Foxes mustering only a single shot against Arsenal and that failed to hit the target. But Ihaenacho will reasonably point to poor service and little support as he grappled with Gabriel and William Saliba.

 

CF: Jean-Philippe Mateta – 6.00
Since Palace were missing their three leading scorers, perhaps it should be no surprise that they failed to notch against a Liverpool side going through the motions. But Mateta had the chances, none more glaring than a first-half opportunity that he lifted onto the crossbar from close range. It’s now over six months since Mateta scored in the Premier League and he is yet to offer an assist this season.

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