Chelsea had their problems in the match against Bolton, but nevertheless held on for a 4-3 win. Didier Drogba (pictured left) scored two goals in the game to earn 32.99 points, and is now close to breaking into the world’s Top 23. The Ivorian striker now has 162.84 points.
Chelsea were 4-0 up by the 63rd minute, the other goals being scored by Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard. However, they then managed to concede three goals and very nearly let victory slip from their grasp. As a result, the ratings of their defenders fell considerably – the worst sufferer in this respect was John Terry, who lost 6.14 points and dropped out of the world’s Top 23 players.
Ballack overtook Lampard thanks to his goal – the German’s rating increased by 22.15 points as a result. Ballack now has 172.02 points and Lampard 170.72.
In another match Liverpool thrashed Blackburn 4-0, two of the goals coming from Fernando Torres. He earned 27.74 points in the match, but despite heading the ratings of Spanish players with 183.12 points, he is still not in the world’s Top 23.
However, Manchester United did not allow their main rivals to overtake them at the top of the table. Once again it was the Italian Federico Macheda who gave United their win – a 2-1 victory at Sunderland. Macheda has a fantastic record so far – he has come on as a substitute in two matches and scored in both, and on this occasion the Italian forward had only been on the field for a minute. His rating is now 32.41 points, but that, it seems, is only the beginning…
© FTBL