Following Mauricio Pochettino’s strategic alterations to the lineup from their recent victory over Leicester City, the team exhibited immediate effectiveness. Axel Disasi, though believing he’d secured the lead in the first half, had his goal disallowed by VAR due to a handball. Despite this setback, the Blues surged ahead just before halftime. Lorenz Assignon received a straight red card for the visiting team following Mykhailo Mudryk’s fall in the box.
Burnley’s manager, Vincent Kompany, received a red card for protesting the decision, leaving him visibly enraged. Cole Palmer’s composed finish from 12 yards out gave Chelsea the lead. Josh Cullen’s remarkable strike early in the second half brought the Clarets level, only for Palmer to secure another goal for Chelsea later in the game.
Dara O’Shea’s header from a corner immediately equalized for Burnley, and despite Chelsea’s numerical advantage in the second half, the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Bobby Vincent has evaluated the Chelsea players as follows:
Djordje Petrovic delivered a superb ball to Malo Gusto early in the match but later faltered on Dara O’Shea’s goal. Malo Gusto showed optimism and involvement in Chelsea’s attacking plays but unfortunately sustained a late-game injury. Axel Disasi was dependable defensively despite his disallowed goal celebration. Benoit Badiashile remained calm under pressure and won several aerial battles. Marc Cucurella, while occupying an advanced position, was less involved compared to his full-back counterpart.
Enzo Fernandez impressed with an incredible sliding tackle in the 13th minute but showed signs of fatigue in the second half. Moises Caicedo displayed remarkable energy but failed to impact the match significantly. Cole Palmer was outstanding throughout, scoring two goals and actively participating in the game. Conor Gallagher had a quiet performance, while Mykhailo Mudryk made an impact with his early-game pressure, resulting in a penalty and a red card for Burnley.
Nicolas Jackson’s work in the build-up was commendable, although he missed a scoring opportunity. Noni Madueke had a decent cameo appearance but fell short of expectations. Raheem Sterling made an instant impact by assisting Palmer’s second goal. Alfie Gilchrist’s late substitution had minimal effect on the game.
