Chelsea’s top rated outfield player against Everton could start again next game despite defensive issues | OneFootball

Romeo Lavia’s performance against Everton had some positives for sure, and we suspect Liam Rosenior might use him again in the future.

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It’s pretty hard to come up with any positives from Chelsea’s defeat to Everton. Our highest rated player according to FotMob’s ratings system was Romeo Lavia, making his first start in the Premier League since October.

In his 57 minutes on the pitch, he won 3 ground duels, made 2 tackles, 5 recoveries and an interception, hit 2 successful long balls and 48 passes overall. It was a tidy, if unspectacular, return.

Lavia struggles to screen alongside exhausted Caicedo

Even considering those positives, it was hardly a game to recommend Lavia as a regular starter. Alongside the exhausted Moises Caicedo, he didn’t provide nearly enough of a physical presence in the middle, or a solid screen of the defence.

Just look at how easily the Toffees played through the middle of our formation for that first goal. Where is Lavia there?

Lavia is going to be a useful player when he’s fit, and we can see Liam Rosenior keeping him in the team for our next game. But is he really going to cut it as a first team regular long term? That still feels ambitious.

In other news…

Chelsea’s lowest rated player overall was Robert Sanchez, who continued his infamous Chelsea career with yet more foolishness.

Jorrel Hato played at centre back, and denied there was a confidence issue in the team.

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