The first fixture of this week's Premier League pitted the champions of the last two seasons – Chelsea and Leicester City – against each other at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were utterly dominant in the first half, taking a comfortable 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
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Leicester improved in the second half but couldn't find a way back into the game and Chelsea killed the game off with a third by Victor Moses with 10 minutes to go.
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Let’s take a look and how the players performed.
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois – 8/10
The Chelsea keeper was a virtual spectator for the first half and might as well have pulled out a chair and sat down. He was given some work to do in the second half but was largely comfortable and will really enjoy his clean sheet.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 7.5/10
Playing on the right-hand side of a back three, the Spaniard proved once again why he is considered so important to Chelsea. A solid performance by the versatile defender who is quickly becoming an excellent centre-back to go along with his abilities at full-back.
Gary Cahill – 7.5/10
The Englishman had a great game and really seems to be taking to the back three system as he completely shut Musa and Vardy out in the first half. Was given a few problems after the break but had a largely comfortable game.
David Luiz – 8/10
Luiz operated like a quarterback, pinging out passes and operated as freekick taker in chief. He hit the crossbar with the first one he took before drawing out a great save from Schmeichel with the second one. The Brazilian tracked Vardy well all game long and it was his last ditch defending that saw him prevent a tap-in for the Englishman when he intercepted Drinkwater's cross onto the post.
Marcos Alonso – 7/10
The Chelsea new boy had a solid first half, operating as a wing-back and linking up well with Eden Hazard on the left. His crosses and set-piece deliveries are a real threat and he should cement his place in the team if Conte sticks to the 3-4-3 formation.
Nemanja Matic – 7.5/10
The Serb's flick from Hazard's corner saw Diego Costa score the opener. Completed bossed the midfield and looked more like the player who was such a vital member of Chelsea's title-winning squad.
N'Golo Kante – 8.5/10
The former Leicester man did his old team no favors as he put in yet another tireless display. Kante also showed a new dimension to his game with improved vision and could have had a couple of assists if his teammates finished better. He almost scored himself and it was a certainly a performance that deserved a goal.
Victor Moses – 8/10
Moses has received a new lease on life under Antonio Conte and has repaid his manager's faith in spades. Looks really at home as a wing-back and gives Chelsea an extra option going forward while proving to be solid in defense. He scored a fabulous third to round things off and was promptly subbed off to a standing ovation.
Pedro – 7.5/10
The Spaniard had a lively start game replacing Willian who was given compassionate leave following the death of his mother. Pedro linked up really well with the Chelsea attack and provided a great assist – from the floor – for the second goal of the game. He was always a threat before he was subbed off for Chalobah.
Diego Costa – 7.5/10
Costa showed why he is the league's most in-form striker as he put in yet another aggressive display. It was smart movement from the Spanish international to get around the back and thump home Chelsea's opener. Costa consistently held the ball up and combined really well with the rest of the Chelsea attack.
Eden Hazard – 8/10
The Belgian really grew into the game after a sloppy start to the game. Hazard tormented the Leicester defense and he scored a beautiful second goal after his corner had led to Diego Costa's opener. He was a constant thorn in Leicester's side until he was replaced after Chelsea's third.
Substitutes
Nathaniel Chalobah – 7/10
The 21-year-old replaced Pedro in the second half, racking up more important minutes with the first-team. He showed off his quality with a great range of passing and an incredible backheel assist for Chelsea's third.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – NA
He was brought on for the last 10 minutes as Chelsea just looked to close out the game as he replaced Eden Hazard.
Ola Aina – NA
Aina was given a 10-minute outing with the first team as Chelsea coasted home.
Leicester City
Kasper Schmeichel – 6/10
The son of the legendary Peter Schmeichel was left stranded by his defense. Almost kept out Costa's effort but could do precious little against Eden Hazard. He made a few smart saves before he was beaten by Moses for Chelsea's third.
Luis Hernandez – 4/10
Hernandez had a night to forget as he was ripped apart time and time again by Alonso and Hazard and offered very little going forward. Leicester will be hoping for Danny Simpson to return ASAP.
Wes Morgan – 4/10
A huge lapse in concentration from the captain saw Diego Costa get around the back and score the opener. It was uncharacteristic display by Morgan as he was bullied by Costa and bamboozled by the other attackers. The only bright spot was a block on Kante's goal-bound effort.
Robert Huth – 5/10
The former Chelsea man was booked for a late challenge on Hazard and the Chelsea nearly doubled their lead from the free kick. While he wasn't as bad Morgan, it was certainly a performance with a lot of room for improvement.
Christian Fuchs – 5.5/10
The only man from the Leicester defense to have had a good game, he did well to protect his flank. His long throws and crosses caused Chelsea some discomfort but that was about as good as it got.
Marc Albrighton – 5/10
Albrighton was kept back in the first half as he spent more time defending rather than going forward. He improved in the second half, getting forward and giving Chelsea a few problems. He was eventually brought off for Andy King with around 15 minutes to go.
Daniel Amartey – 4.5/10
The man who was meant to replace N'Golo Kante at Leicester was given a lesson in midfield dominance by the former Leicester man. He was completely overrun by the Chelsea midfield.
Danny Drinkwater – 6/10
Drinkwater had a forgettable first half but showed his quality on the ball after the break. He almost got Leicester back into the game as his wicked cross was turned onto the post by David Luiz. The Englishman remains a key part of the Leicester set up and was one of the few players to come out of this game with his reputation intact.
Jeffrey Schlupp – 5/10
He was kept on the backfoot for the majority of the game and was easily dealt with the Chelsea team in the second half. An impotent performance by the winger and he was brought off for Riyad Mahrez in the second half.
Jamie Vardy – 6/10
Jamie Vardy spent most of the first half chasing shadows but after the break, he got into some decent possessions. Luiz seemed to have his number throughout the game though and will be disappointed he didn't do better.
Ahmed Musa – 5/10
Musa was forced to play on the left as Chelsea dominated possession in the first half and could do very little to get into the game. He improved after the break but was still lacking with the final product. He was substituted for Islam Slimani.
Substitutes
Islam Slimani – 4/10
Slimani came on for Musa as Leicester pushed to get back into the game but had very little impact on proceedings.
Riyad Mahrez – 5/10
He was brought on for the ineffective Jeffrey Schlupp and had a few bright moments, drawing some fouls. Maybe Leicester would have found more success if he had started.
Andy King – 5/10
The long-time Leicester servant was brought on for the last 15 minutes or so but could do very little to change things.
