Chelsea forward Eden Hazard is the star but defence is now looking secure, says Alan Smith

Standout performer: David Luiz
REUTERS
Alan Smith6 October 2018

It has been the Eden Hazard show so far this season. He has looked unstoppable, but Maurizio Sarri will have been delighted with Chelsea’s defensive display against Liverpool.

Sarri had not looked entirely happy with the way Chelsea defended before that game but against Liverpool that back four were organised, disciplined, determined and stayed in touch with each other.

David Luiz was probably the standout performer. We all wondered whether he was Sarri’s cup of tea, but he has been a regular, along with Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso. Last weekend they repelled most of what the opposition had to offer and it took a world-class strike from Daniel Sturridge to break the barricades late on.

Thursday night was a second-string defence in the 1-0 win against MOL Vidi, but Sarri will have been delighted with the back four against Liverpool. Any successful team needs a good defence and if Chelsea can continue in that vein then that is going to be a great platform for the season.

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