Defender – Marcos Alonso
Tottenham 0-3 Chelsea
Three of the Blues defenders make the Best XI call after Matchday 5’s action. The improved and trusted Marcos Alonso barely put a foot wrong and was just unlucky not to register a goal – with three of his efforts being saved by Hugo Lloris.
He did grab an assist, which could have turned into two on the day against Spurs, but Chelsea squandered their chances. Tuchel has shown a lot of trust in the Spaniard and he is yet to lose his place to Ben Chilwell.
Defender – Thiago Silva
Tottenham 0-3 Chelsea
The second of three is the man who’s made back-to-back Best XI in TTF’s picks, Thiago Silva. A goal scored and a clean sheet, what more could you ask for from a CB? With his goal, he became the London club’s second-oldest goalscorer behind Didier Drogba.
Silva’s performances had the manager, Thomas Tuchel, hailing praises down on the Brazilian, commending his commanding display. He won five of his six ground duels, all four of his aerial duels, scored as mentioned earlier, and took two shots on target.
The Chelsea defender and master of the art was the standout figure on the pitch, proving age is nothing but a number, him and a few others in the Premier League.
⭐️ Man of the Match, @ChelseaFC's Thiago Silva
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 19, 2021
74 touches
Won 5/6 duels & all 4 aerial duels
6 clearances
51/60 passes completed, 1 chance created
2 shots, both on target
Scored opening goal, becomes Chelsea's 2nd oldest PL scorer, after Drogba pic.twitter.com/zOwLtSmdm1
Defender – Antonio Rudiger
Tottenham 0-3 Chelsea
Thiago scored with his head, Rudiger’s a bit more classy and with his right foot. It was really a show of class from the Blues backline and especially the three in this weekend’s best XI. They kept a deadly Son and Harry Kane quiet and down to two shots on target and a lousy eight in total.
If the strikers are not going to do the job upfront for Chelsea – not to fret – the boys at the back brought their shooting boots and will help collect the three points to overtake title rivals, Liverpool.
Defender – James Milner
Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace
If you thought Matchday 4’s standout performer in Crystal Palace’s win over Spurs didn’t play on Saturday at Anfield, you are mistaken – he in fact – did play but was outclassed and pocketed by the veteran that is James Milner.
The 35-year-old deputised at right-back following the late exclusion of the then-fallen ill Trent Alexander-Arnold and did so effortlessly. Milner was number one in every aspect of the game. He covered the most distance on the field, had the most touches, passes in the opposition’s half, the list goes on.