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The Barca star took home the prize in 2021, but one of England's Euros heroes and Lyon's Champions League-winner Ada Hegerberg are in also contention

On Monday, the winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin 2022 will be confirmed, but who will it be? Alexia Putellas' triumph last year was no surprise, with the Barcelona midfielder having an incredible 2020-21 season as she led her club to a treble, which included a first-ever Women's Champions League title.

This time around, it's a little more difficult to call. Many of the players who had barn-storming campaigns in 2021-22 were not the stars of the past summer's major tournaments – be it through injury, as was the case for Putellas, or due to disappointing performances by their respective national teams as a whole.

It's tough to know what weight judges will give to competitions like the European Championship. Given they surprised everyone by not nominating Barca winger Caroline Graham Hansen or her new team-mate Keira Walsh for the award, it's clear that trying to decipher how they think is impossible.

So, all things considered, how might the final ranking for this year's Ballon d'Or Feminin turn out? GOAL takes a look…

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  10Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)

  When the 2021-22 season ended, few would have thought Lena Oberdorf would make it onto the Ballon d'Or shortlist.

  The 2020 Women's NXGN winner had another superb season for Wolfsburg – helping the German club take the Frauen-Bundesliga title back from Bayern Munich as well as winning the DFB-Pokal – but as a holding midfielder, those efforts can go under-appreciated.

  However, no one could ignore how incredible the 20-year-old was at the Euros. Her performances were absolutely monumental as Germany reached the final, beaten only in extra-time by England.

  Oberdorf picked up the Young Player of the Tournament award for her efforts and should be respected in the voting for the Ballon d'Or, too.

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  9Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave)

  With it not being a World Cup year, Alex Morgan's performances over the past 12 months may have gone under the radar.

  The forward top-scored in the NWSL regular season, netting 15 goals in 17 appearances to fire the San Diego Wave into the play-offs in its inaugural season – making it the first expansion team to do so on its first attempt.

  After a few months off the roster, she also had a great summer for the U.S. women's national team. Morgan scored three goals in four CONCACAF Women's Championship games, including the solitary strike in the final against Canada, as Vlatko Andonovski's side won the tournament.

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  8Millie Bright (Chelsea)

  It's uncommon for centre-backs to be recognised in individual awards, but Millie Bright is deservedly on the Ballon d'Or shortlist and should rack up the votes after a great year.

  The Chelsea defender was superb for her club as they won the Women's Super League for a third successive season and two FA Cup titles, with the 2020-21 edition seeing its final delayed until December due to the pandemic.

  What puts her among the nominees for this award, though, is the fact she built on that with such a stand-out summer for England. Bright was colossal as the Lionesses won the Euros, arguably the best player in her position on show across the tournament.

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  7Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

  The Women's Super League Player of the Season, the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year – Sam Kerr had herself a year.

  The Aussie scored 20 goals in 20 league games, won three domestic trophies and broke tons of records in the process. Her double on the final day of the WSL was particularly special, helping to turn the game around for Chelsea to win the title.

  There was no major tournament for Kerr this summer, which may work against her in the voting, as well as the fact the Blues crashed out of the Women's Champions League in the group stages, but it was still one of her best individual seasons yet.

GOAL takes a look at why Fulham FC are called 'Fulhamerica' and the USMNT superstars who have graced Craven Cottage.

In the summer of 1997, Fulham was bought by an Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. The Cottagers were languishing in the third division but their new owner promised that the club would ply their trade in the Premier League in the next five years despite no outlandish spending.

They started to rebuild themselves and turned their sights to the United States to scout cheap yet quality talent. In 1999, when they were promoted to the second division, it saw the arrival of Marcus Hahnemann from Colorado Rapids for just £80,000. And thus began the saga of Fulham and the United States of America…

Why are Fulham called "Fulhamerica'?

Although Hahnemann failed to find his feet at Craven Cottage, the club continued to monitor the American talent pool for recruitment. Eddie Lewis joined in 2000, who again turned out to be a disappointment as he could not prove his mettle in west London, making just 22 appearances, and his highlight was a winning goal against Derby County in the League Cup.

Nonetheless, the club kept their trust in American players and signed Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride in the winter transfer window of 2003-04. In no time, both of them became fan favourites for their commitment to the badge which initiated a golden era of "Fulhamerica'.

A couple of years later in 2006, Clint Dempsey, was roped in from New England Revolution for a whopping £2m. This made the most expensive American player to play in the Premier League. And with Dempsey's success, several others followed suit like Kasey Keller and Eddie Johnson.

Fulham not only had ample representatives of the United States in the dressing room but in 2013, an American businessman of Pakistani origin, Shahid Khan, purchased the club from Al Fayed. Khan, 72, continues to be the chairman of the club but his son, Tony Khan, is at the wheel as the Vice Chairman and Director of Football Operations.

Over the years, a total of 11 USMNT players have gone on to play for Fulham including Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson from the current squad.

GOAL takes a look at the most notable USMNT players who have adorned the Fulham shirt.

• Marcus Hahnemann | (1999-02)

  Marcus Hahnemann was the first American import by Fulham. However, he could not establish himself as the first-choice keeper ahead of Maik Taylor and was sent out on loan to Rochdale and Reading.

  The signing of Edwin van der Sar further slipped him down the pecking order and was released at the end of the 2001-02 season.

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  Eddie Lewis | (2000-02)

  Eddie Lewis was roped in 2000 but could not make an impact at Cavern Cottage. He made just 22 appearances in his three seasons and was sold to Preston North End where he became an important member of the squad.

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  Brian McBride | (2004-08)

  There was another USMNT player who played a crucial role in Fulham's escape, Brian McBride. Having joined Fulham in 2004 he went on to make over 154 appearances, scoring 40 goals including 12 in the 2006-07 season.

  In the next season, McBride was awarded the armband for Fulham. He was a fan favourite for his movements inside the box and high work rate. With each passing season, his popularity soared and the club renamed a bar inside Craven Cottage, "McBride's", in June 2009 to commemorate his contributions to the club.

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  Carlos Bocanegra | (2004-08)

  Carlos Bocanegra joined the club in 2004 and was soon rewarded with the moniker of the and the

  He was a versatile player who played primarily as a centre-back, but also as a left-back and a holding midfielder. He was known for his aerial presence, his ability to read the game, and his tenacity in the tackle. In the 2006-07 season, he scored five goals to become Fulham's second-leading goalscorer behind McBride.

The Reds' season reached a new low at Wolves, but there is still some light at the end of the tunnel at Anfield

It’s become a regular feature for Liverpool this season, the old Monday morning post-mortem. The video analysis room at the AXA Training Centre is getting plenty of use at the moment, as Jurgen Klopp, his players and staff search for answers and, more importantly, a way out of the Reds’ current crisis.

In a campaign filled with unpleasant surprises, Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Wolves represented a new low. It left Liverpool 10th in the Premier League table, out of both domestic cups and having won only one of seven games in all competitions since the turn of the year.

They are 11 points off the top four – a stated ‘minimum aim’ at the start of the season – and closer to the bottom of the league than they are the top. Their run of three successive away league defeats is their worst in 11 years, and they are currently on course to record their lowest points total since the 2011-12 campaign.

In a candid, and at times tetchy, post-match press conference at Molineux, Klopp insisted that he still believed in his ability to turn things around, but admitted that his players’ confidence was at rock bottom. Rebuilding that, he said, would be key, especially with a Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield next up.

How exactly, though, can he do that? What can the manager do to spark his underperforming stars into life?

GOAL takes a look…

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  Remember, remember

  It feels different, because so much of what has happened this season has been so unexpected, but this is not actually the first time Klopp’s Liverpool has found itself in this kind of position.

  Two years ago, the Reds were in the midst of a run of six successive home league defeats, as sides like Burnley, Brighton, Fulham and, yes, Everton, came to Anfield and left with the points.

  Then, as now, there were injuries and crises of confidence, rumours of an unhappy dressing room and an unhappy manager. Then, as now, Klopp put the latter to bed, insisting he was up for the challenge of fixing things.

  Fix them he did. Liverpool didn’t finish 2020-21 playing great football, and they certainly didn’t win a trophy, but they found a way to get the results they needed, dogging out away wins and getting over their homesickness through grit and determination. They finished with a run of 10 games unbeaten, eight of them victories, to finish third and qualify for the Champions League, when some had speculated that even a top-half spot might be beyond them.

  A repeat this season looks unlikely, granted, but Klopp knows it be done. Recent history tells him that. 

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  Get the big man back

  Whisper it, but it looks like there could be some good news on the injury front this week, with Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk all potentially returning to full training at Kirkby.

  All three will make a difference, but it is Van Dijk whose impact would be the most immediate. Liverpool’s defending has been little short of diabolical in recent weeks, with 13 goals conceded in five games against Brentford, Brighton and Wolves, and a worrying vulnerability at set-pieces emerging.

  That vulnerability will certainly be tested against Everton, who will arrive at Anfield buoyed by what was potentially a season-changing win over Arsenal last weekend, and having Van Dijk, even a 75 percent fit Van Dijk, on the field would be a major boost for Klopp, as well as for the likes of Andy Robertson and Joel Matip, who have been finding life tough in the Dutchman’s absence.

  His aerial presence, and his voice, could be absolutely crucial on derby day. 

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  Change the record

  You don’t need to look at the league table to know that all is not well at Anfield, you just need to look at the faces and the body language – of the players and of Klopp.

  Take Molineux as the perfect example. From the moment Matip shanked the second pass of the afternoon straight to Ruben Neves, there was an air of resignation about Liverpool, a feeling of ‘here we go again’ as another game passed them by, another opponent outworked and outplayed them, and another set of fans took their opportunity to rub salt in the wounds.

  Klopp’s mood, understandably, was pretty dark afterwards, and it was right that he chose not to offer excuses for his players. Indeed, he suggested it was time they stopped hiding behind the main one – namely that they played so many games last season that there was bound to be a drop off this term.

  That's a good idea. But he did also create unnecessary headlines by taking issue, unfairly, with a journalist, and he did invite ridicule by dismissing Wolves’ third goal as irrelevant, giving their social media team a tap-in which they duly accepted. 

  These, like complaining about kick-off times or the fixture schedule or the weather, may seem like minor things in the grand scheme – and nobody really cares when you're winning – but they add fuel to the fire, to the notion that Liverpool are ‘cracking up’, and they need to be avoided. 

  You can’t polish a you-know-what, as they say, and nobody expects Klopp to come out laughing, joking and full of the joys of spring, but he can make life easier for himself by saying a little less than he is at the moment.

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  Fix up, look sharp

  Here’s a scenario for you. Imagine if, in the eighth minute of the game against Brentford on January 2, Darwin Nunez collects Mohamed Salah’s pass, rounds David Raya and sweeps Liverpool into an early lead. 

  Or imagine if, in the first half of the game against Brighton on January 14, Salah latches onto Jordan Henderson’s pass down the right, stands up his man and smashes the ball past Robert Sanchez.

  How about if Nunez squares to Salah before half-time at Wolves? Or if the Uruguayan takes the chance created for him by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half?

  Ifs, buts and maybes, of course, but there is no doubt that Liverpool have had the chance, and the chances, to make this a very different season for themselves. They’ve lost seven Premier League match, and in all of them they've been in the game at some point, only for their finishing and/or decision-making in the final third to let them down at crucial moments.

  Goals change games, and the Reds haven’t been scoring enough of them. Take away the freak 9-0 win over Bournemouth in August, and they’ve managed 25 in 20 league matches, as many as Aston Villa and fewer than a Leeds side that sacked its manager on Monday, fearing relegation.

  They’ve only scored the first goal six times in the league this season, and boy does it make life harder when you're constantly 1-0 down and fearing the worst.

  It’s on Salah, Nunez and Co. to help change that, sharpish.

Mikel Arteta's side were torn apart at the Emirates Stadium as their dreams of a first league title since 2004 were ended by the impressive Seagulls

Arsenal’s players all slumped to the turf at the final whistle as their Premier League title dreams were ended by a humbling 3-0 defeat by Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side went into the game knowing there was no room for error following Manchester City’s victory at Everton earlier in the day, but they couldn’t raise themselves for one final push as their title hopes fizzled out once and for all.

Brighton were excellent and fully deserved their win, with second half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan proving the difference. Arsenal had some chances in the first half, with Leandro Trossard clipping the bar and Bukayo Saka going close, but once they fell behind they never looked like coming back.

Mikel Arteta's side know that if they now lose at Nottingham Forest next Saturday that the title will officially be City’s. And even if they do avoid defeat, then a win for City over Chelsea 24 hours later will do it.

Arsenal led the race for so long, but their hopes are now over, extinguished by a relentless run of wins from Pep Guardiola’s champions.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Emirates Stadium…

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  LOSER: Arsenal fans

  When City won so convincingly at Everton earlier in the day, you got the sense that this could be a tricky afternoon for Arsenal. Everyone at the club – from fans to the players – would have started the day pinning their hopes on Everton potentially getting something at Goodison Park, so to see City win so comfortably would have been a big blow.

  You could feel before the game that the energy had been sucked out of the Emirates a bit by events on Merseyside. The fans tried to raise the mood, but the players just couldn’t respond.

  There was an understandable sense of real disappointment at full-time. Lots of fans had left, lots had remained and cheered the team off. This will take a bit of time to get over, but despite the painful ending it shouldn’t be forgotten what a great season Arsenal have enjoyed.

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  WINNER: Manchester City

  They had better starting making some more space in that trophy cabinet at the Etihad, because the Premier League title is on its way back to Manchester.

  In all honesty, this outcome felt inevitable from the moment City cruised past Arsenal when the teams met a few weeks ago, but now there is no doubt at all. It’s been a relentless run of form from City, who have won their last 11 league games and ultimately that has proven too much for an Arsenal side who have run out of steam.

  City can now purely focus on getting their hands on that elusive Champions League trophy, which will be a major boost to Guardiola over these closing weeks of the season.

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  LOSER: Gabriel Martinelli

  We’ll have to wait and see how bad the ankle injury is that Martinelli suffered early on in the game, but it did not look good for the young attacker. How Moises Caicedo avoided a yellow card for the foul on Martinelli was incredible. It was a poor challenge from behind and you could see Martinelli’s ankle buckle as it rolled under the weight of both players.

  Martinelli did manage to play on for a few minutes, but you could see he was really struggling and it was no surprise to see him forced off soon after.

  Arsenal will desperately be hoping it’s nothing too serious, but the sight of the Brazilian limping round the pitch at full-time with his leg in a protective boot was not a good one.

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  LOSER: Andy Madley and the officials

  This was the second weekend in a row that Arsenal were involved in a game that saw the officials lose control early. Andy Madley set the tone when he somehow failed to even book Martinelli for a really dangerous challenge which saw him clatter shoulder first into the face of Karou Mitoma. Caicedo then took revenge on Martinelli a few minutes later with an awful foul from behind which led the Brazilian having to go off. Again, there was no booking for Caicedo.

  Those incidents just led to a scrappy first half, with players from both teams seemingly feeling like they could get away with anything without any punishment.

  It was a really poor display from the officials, one that was summed up with a linesman inexplicably put his flag up to signal for an offside on Trossard, even though the ball had come to him from a throw-in!

Meet the biggest starts in 1FF

These three players represent the competitive spirit and football quality. With their skills on the field, they are ready to make a difference and captivate the fans with their performance. These are the players to watch in every match, as they promise excitement and memorable moments for 1FF.

• Mateo Morales (ST – CAM)

  Mateo Morales is the most skilled striker in Angelenos. His passion for football and his family made him move from Mexico, where he was born, to Los Angeles, where he now lives.

  His left leg is one of the best in the league. That is why he is known as "El Francotirador – The Sniper". He has the goal in his mind and puts the ball where he imagines it.

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• Jalen Duke (LB – CB)

  Duke is a native United States player.He usually plays as Left Back with the number 39. In his youth formation he used to play as center back, so he has all the conditions to play in both positions.

  Coaches and fans compare him to legendary players such as Cafu and Dani Alves.

  When not in the field, he enjoys exploring the beaches of California, finding peace in the waves and drawing inspiration from the ocean.

• Alex León (CM – CAM)

  Alex Leon is the team's best midfielder. He wears the number 10 in honor of his idols Carlos Valderrama and Juan Roman Riquelme. His ability with and without the ball makes him a complete player. He has vision, ball control and determination to play.

  He is 26 years old and was born in Colombia. He can play as an attacking midfielder. He usually goes with his friends to home matches and is an extra motivation for him.

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• Noah Drakenburg (ST)

  Noah is a Swedish left-footed striker to watch on the pitch. He has skill, confidence, good ball control and dribbling.

  A born competitor, Noah thrives under pressure and is always hungry for success. He embraces the physical battles with opposing defenders, using his strength and agility to outmuscle them and create space for himself in the box.

  Noah Drakenburg's dominant right foot is his weapon of choice. His powerful and accurate shots strike fear into the hearts of goalkeepers, and his ability to find the back of the net from various positions and angles makes him a constant threat in the attacking.

Man City striker Erling Haaland may be a goal-scoring machine, but he proved to be human when hitting the post with a penalty at Sheffield United.

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• Blues frontman failed from the spot
• Effort crashed off the woodwork
• Keeper had been sent the wrong way

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Norwegian frontman remains a prolific presence for the reigning Premier League champions, but he fluffed his lines when presented with an opportunity to hit the net from 12 yards at Bramall Lane.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City were presented with an opportunity to take the lead in Sheffield after seeing John Egan slide in to block an attempted cross from Julian Alvarez. The ball struck the Blades defender on the hand, which resulted in a penalty being awarded.

• AND WHAT’S MORE

  Haaland stepped up confidently and was able to send Wes Foderingham the wrong way with a well-struck effort. The current holder of the Premier League Golden Boot was, however, left with his head in his hands after seeing his strike cannon back off the woodwork and away to safety.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  City were frustrated for long periods by the newly-promoted Blades, with the sides going level at half-time. Haaland hit 52 goals in all competitions last season and bagged a brace in his first Premier League outing of 2023-24 against Burnley.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a “lot more opinionated” during his second spell at Manchester United, with Mike Phelan revealing why that move went wrong.

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• Portuguese superstar returned to England in 2021
• Demanded high standards from those around him
• Alienated himself and was released in November 2022

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Portuguese superstar completed an emotional return to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 when severing ties with Juventus. He found himself back in England some 12 years after leaving for a record-breaking stint at Real Madrid.

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• WHAT THEY SAID

  Ronaldo was a five-time Ballon d’Or winner with a handful of Champions League crowns on his CV when re-joining the Red Devils and expected nothing but the best from those around him. Former United coach Phelan has told of a dream move that turned into a nightmare: “The second time round, he came in a lot older and a lot more opinionated, strong-willed. He still had massively high standards and was terrific to work with. But I'd probably say a tougher mindset. He had been at Man United, he had been Portugal's ever-present, he had been at Madrid.

  “I liked it because he didn't want his standards to drop, he wanted other people's standards to come up. And sometimes you lose a few people along the way when that happens. I remember certain times when he pushed and pushed hard, and he didn't get much reaction or much response. And there was frustration.

  “When you deal with top, top people, it's about them and where they can finish and where they can get to. They want to look back and go 'wow, that was successful'. And he probably realised, and I don't know as I never had that conversation with him, that he couldn't do it at Manchester United. So his challenges were elsewhere. He's still playing international football, yes he's in Saudi Arabia, but he's still playing and scoring goals. He is doing all the things we knew he could do at Manchester United. But a really good personality, hard-working and challenging. He challenged me as a coach, Carlos Queiroz as a coach and Sir Alex [Ferguson] as a manager. But that's good because it takes you to another level.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Phelan added on what Ronaldo was like to work with during his first stint at Old Trafford, when he was a starry-eyed winger back in 2003: “The first time, the challenging part was that Cristiano came to Manchester United knowing in his own mind that he was going to be the best in the world. He had one ball under his hand and the team had another. And this was a young kid, one who came from Portugal and was made there, and made that sacrifice to come away from that, where he was comfortable, to a club like Manchester United and learn everything from an English and British perspective.

  “He had all the skill set, the mentality – but what we tried to do with [former assistant manager] Carlos Queiroz was we tried to integrate him into the team and he responded brilliantly. His work ethic and practice was fantastic and it rubbed off on the players. They knew there was someone special there. In that environment, with the standards so high, the players knew this guy could take them where they needed to go and to go again. He did that brilliantly.”

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• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Ronaldo hit 118 goals for United during his first spell – claiming his first Golden Ball and Champions League trophy along the way – before plundering 27 through 54 appearances in a second stint with the Red Devils that was brought to a close in November 2022. He is now plying his club trade with Al-Nassr at 38 years of age and is showing no sign of slowing down with club and country.

Leandro Trossard has been added to Arsenal’s injury list ahead of the North London Derby, with the Belgian winger missing out against Tottenham.

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• Forward picked up injury in training
• Joins fellow winger Martinelli on the sidelines
• Gunners decide to go with two up front

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 28-year-old forward was hoping to enjoy an extended run in the Gunners side after seeing Gabriel Martinelli ruled out. The Brazil international picked up a knock against Everton in Arsenal’s last Premier League game and has not been seen since – with Trossard scoring a match-winning goal at Goodison Park off the bench.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Martinelli was absent from Mikel Arteta’s matchday plans once again versus Spurs. When the team sheets dropped, however, it was also revealed that Trossard would be forced to sit the game out. Arsenal revealed that a “slight muscle issue” was keeping him on the sidelines.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Arteta later stated that Trossard had “felt something” in training, with no risks being taken on his fitness. Big-money summer signing Kai Havertz could have slotted back in for Arsenal as they stuck with a settled system, but the Gunners have decided to field strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah in the same starting XI.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Arsenal and Spurs have made bright starts to the 2023-24 Premier League campaign, with both sides picking up 13 points from their opening five games. They are looking to keep pace with defending champions Manchester City at the top of the table.

In his first game of the season, the former Monaco centre-back opened the scoring to help ease some pressure on Mauricio Pochettino

Chelsea have finally won a game at Stamford Bridge, and their home fans can finally rejoice. Their league form has seen the Blues win just once at home in 2023, so their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday mean a lot to their supporters – and Mauricio Pochettino.

Benoit Badiashile opened the scoring for Chelsea on his return from injury, while Raheem Sterling added a second midway through the second half. Arguably, Chelsea should have added more to their goal tally, but on an evening where it was pouring with rain all night, Pochettino will surely take the result and look ahead to what's next.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Robert Sanchez (6/10):

  Poor communication with his backline at times, struggled to play out from his box but had a big stoppage-time save.

  Reece James (6/10):

  Still not back to his best, but important minutes ahead of a tough Premier League stretch.

  Alex Disasi (6/10):

  His first match at Chelsea alongside Badiashile, whom he played with at Monaco previously. Good chemistry, but a few nervy moments playing out of the back.

  Benoit Badiashile (9/10):

  A rock in the defence, but was an immediate threat from every set-piece, with a classy goal to add to his performance.

  Marc Cucurella (5/10):

  Was lost most of the match, didn't link well with Sterling and was often out of position.

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  Midfield

  Lesley Ugochukwu (6/10):

  Neither impressed nor struggled. Didn't offer progression forward but navigated the defensive side of midfield well.

  Enzo Fernandez (8/10):

  Brilliant in the midfield, pushed forward well and linked up play every time going forward. Crucial to the result.

  Conor Gallagher (5/10):

  His first poor Chelsea performance in quite some time. Should have had a penalty called against him for a handball and was underwhelming in the 10 role.

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  Attack

  Cole Palmer (8/10):

  The Blues best attacker on the night, Palmer was their most threatening player in and around the box.

  Nicolas Jackson (5/10):

  Lacked a finishing touch all night as he showed little confidence in his ability around the Blackburn box.

  Raheem Sterling (8/10):

  Nabbed the Blues second goal midway through the second-half and was a consistent threat all evening.

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• Subs & Manager

  Levi Colwill (6/10):

  Subbed on for Badiashile, wasn't tested much but brought a level of calmness on the ball to the backline.

  Malo Gusto (6/10):

  Subbed on for James, overlapped well with Sterling.

  Moises Caicedo (6/10):

  Came on with 15 minutes to spare, played well in his cameo.

  Alex Matos (N/A):

  Subbed on with minutes to spare.

  Noni Madueke (N/A):

  Subbed on with minutes to spare.

  Mauricio Pochettino (6/10):

  The Blues advanced and were seemingly in control all match, but it feels like Chelsea are missing cohesion in the final third. The Blues boss hasn't seemed to set-up for a forward of Jackson's profile for success, while Gallagher seemed to not know where to be in the attack.

Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah are part of the problem at AC Milan, says Arrigo Sacchi, with the club told they signed “too many foreign players”.

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• American stars moved to Italy over the summer
• Enjoyed a bright start to life in Serie A
• Individual & collective form has dipped

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The USMNT stars enjoyed a positive start to life at San Siro on the back of their respective summer transfers from Chelsea and Valencia. Pulisic helped himself to goals and assists in Serie A, while Musah earned plenty of plaudits for his efforts in midfield.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Milan have, however, gone winless through their last four games to slip six points behind arch-rivals Inter in a domestic title battle while also slumping to the foot of their Champions League group. Head coach Stefano Pioli is now under pressure, with fans booing their own side during a 1-0 defeat to Udinese.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Legendary former Rossoneri boss Sacchi has told of the issues in Milan: “Is there somebody thinking it is Pioli’s fault? I hope not. I think the biggest error was made at the start. That’s where all the problems began. Too many foreign players were signed. Those coming from abroad take a while to understand our league and our methods. These guys seem confused and the result is that Milan do not always look like a team. I think boos were fair because the performance had been terrible. The fact is that there isn’t enough time to enter the player’s heads and convince them to become a collective.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Sacchi has told Pioli that he needs to find “leadership” within his squad, with the likes of Pulisic and Musah required to raise their game in order to avoid seeing their debut campaign in Italy become a write off at home and abroad.