Jamie Carragher said the outstanding defensive performance from Andreas Christensen made it easy for the rest of the Chelsea team during the 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Thursday.
When Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Thiago Silva was not quite ready to play against Liverpool, it felt like a massive blow for Chelsea.
But Christensen’s performance in the middle of the back three last night suggested otherwise.
Because of his pace, the 24-year-old might have been the better choice for this particular game even if Silva had been fit to start.
Carragher even implied that last night was almost a Christensen one-man show in the Chelsea defence.
“It was not so much defending really [for Chelsea], it was more Christensen,” the former Liverpool centre-back told Sky Sports after the game.
“I felt he was taking the ball, playing out from the back and being really brave against one of the best pressing teams in the Premier League and Europe.
“I think he was really brave in taking those responsibilities.
“Every time Liverpool attacked or put a cross, I felt he got his head at the end of it.
“There were a couple of times he was in a race with [Sadio] Mane and came out on top.”
Chronicle view
Christensen is often considered way too passive when playing in back four, but this also makes him an ideal man in the middle of the back three.
He is arguably more suited to providing cover for the more aggressive defenders around him who tend to close down opposition attackers, such as Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger.
It is going to be difficult for Tuchel when he has to pick his defensive line when Silva eventually returns — because Christensen absolutely deserves to keep his place in the team.