Chelsea had a lot of good performers in their 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday.
Estevao Willian is earning plenty of plaudits after scoring the winner against the Premier League champions, while Moises Caicedo is also coming in for a lot of praise.
Gary Neville lauded Caicedo after the game, hailing him as the “best player on the pitch”.
One of his midfield partners on the day, though, did not fare too badly either when he was introduced to the match.
- READ MORE: Willy Caballero reveals why Chelsea need to ‘keep an eye on’ Moises Caicedo after Liverpool stunner
No January signing can rival a fit Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia did not start the Premier League encounter, but the 21-year-old managed to make a huge impact when he came on in the 55th minute.
Because of all of their injuries, Chelsea may be forced to sign another centre-back and centre-forward in the January transfer window.
No addition that the Blues can realistically bring in during the winter market, however, can rival a fully fit Lavia. The Belgian can do things that others simply cannot.
Lavia is so good in possession, and his stats from the Liverpool game show that. He is a great receiver of the ball, able to take it under pressure before finding one of his teammates.
| Romeo Lavia’s stats against Liverpool | Total |
| Minutes | 35 |
| Touches | 25 |
| Accurate passes | 17/19 (89%) |
| Long balls (accurate) | 2 (2) |
| Dribble attempts (successful) | 1 (1) |
| Ground duels (won) | 3 (2) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 1 (1) |
| Possession lost | 4 |
After one game at the Club World Cup, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez described Lavia as “exceptional”.
Against Liverpool, he was just that. Chelsea need to keep the Belgium international fit, though that is obviously easier said than done, especially when you look at Lavia’s injury record.
How Chelsea fans feel about Romeo Lavia right now
Lavia has barely played for Chelsea since his arrival from Southampton in 2023 because of injuries.
However, he still remains a very popular figure among the Chelsea fanbase, with supporters clearly aware of what their midfielder is capable of when he is fit.
Before the Liverpool game, Chelsea fans were calling for Lavia to start. They did not get their wish, but they still got to see Lavia play and make an impact.
The former Southampton man staying fit would be like a new signing, one that would trump any that the club are able to make in January.
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