Kieran Gibbs thinks Chelsea have been really missing ‘excellent’ player recently

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The mood around Chelsea is still relatively high despite the recent 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

The Blues dropped out of the top four of the Premier League for the time being, however Enzo Maresca insisted he was not too down after his players lost for just the second time in the league this season.

Arguably the biggest highlight for the Blues was the fact they were able to welcome back some players who have hardly featured this season due to injury.

• READ MORE: Enzo Maresca lost Chelsea the game at Anfield when he took off ‘special’ player

Reece James made his first appearance of the season, something which delighted former teammate Thiago Silva as well as supporters.

Romeo Lavia also returned to the starting side, with many impressed by the impact he had in just his second start of the campaign.

Gibbs says Chelsea have really missed Romeo Lavia

Jamie Carragher admitted he was surprised Maresca replaced him early in the second half. The manager seems very cautious in his approach due to the injury woes the youngster has already faced since joining Chelsea.

Kieran Gibbs has now claimed that the Blues have really missed Lavia, who has made just three Premier League appearances for the club since joining over a year ago.

He said to ESPN: “Romeo Lavia, who they have missed tremendously, the way he was playing out from the back in the opening stages of the game almost scared Liverpool a little bit, and that’s what made them sit back It took them by surprise.”

Lavia emergance is bad news for Enzo Fernandez

It can now be argued that Lavia has somewhat established himself as a guaranteed starter for the club when he is fit, potentially putting one of his teammates in danger.

Enzo Fernandez was not named in the starting side to take on Liverpool, and the question can certainly now be asked as to whether he is in the strongest XI that Chelsea can name.

Moises Caicedo meanwhile continues to go from strength to strength in the middle of the park, and the new pairing that was seen on Sunday impressed greatly together.

Lavia was tipped over the summer as an ‘excellent’ player, and that could well be coming true in front of our eyes.