Chelsea got off to a flying start against Liverpool, but before the game, a bold Enzo Maresca decision raised eyebrows.
It was never going to be an easy fixture welcoming the reigning champions to Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea approached the game with intent.
In the build-up, there were many questions around the starting XI, with so many players sidelined. Enzo Maresca clearly didn’t want to play it safe, either, as he did something he had not tried before.
When the line-up came out, it felt safe to assume that captain Reece James would be putting in another shift in midfield, but when play started, you could see that wasn’t the plan.
Enzo Maresca deployed Malo Gusto in midfield
Malo Gusto is the man Maresca chose to put in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, and it didn’t take long for his decision to be justified.
Of all of Chelsea’s defenders, Gusto has been the most creative in recent seasons. He has racked up 14 assists now as a Chelsea player, after adding one within 15 minutes of playing his new role.
Of course, credit has to go to Caicedo for an absolute thunderstrike to welcome Giorgi Mamardashvili to the Premier League, but it was Gusto who came short and fed it to the Ecuadorian.
Outside of the goal, Gusto hasn’t looked out of place in the middle of the park, a testament to his versatility.
Gusto and James are both starter quality, so it’s good to see another avenue through which they can share the pitch.
Maresca trying new things amid injury crisis
It’s encouraging to see Maresca willing to change things to cope with the litany of injuries that have been plaguing Chelsea this season.
As well as playing Gusto in midfield, he has moved Enzo Fernandez to the 10, where he looks comfortable and dangerous.
At the back, he continues to try out different pairings. For this game, he went with Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong, another controversial shout that seems to be working so far.
Result aside, the way Chelsea have come into this game is a promising sign of their willingness to compete with the biggest sides.
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