Chelsea have a rash of good centre backs at the moment – and they’ve needed them.
The opening week of the season saw Azpi moved to right back to replace the suspended Victor Moses, with Antonio Rudiger making his debut in the centre, and Gary Cahill’s red card on the opening day against Burnley changed meant more minutes from the German.
Then a red for Luiz against Arsenal, combined with rotation and injuries, got Andreas Christensen heavily involved. Both of the two new boys have impressed, and appear to be trusted at the back by Antonio Conte.
With N’Golo Kante out injured, this gives the Italian an interesting new option. Against the limp offensive efforts of Crystal Palace, Luiz could move into midfield to replace the Frenchman, and one of the two could take his place at the back.
This would allow him to continue playing the 352 he’s played in the last two games against Atletico Madrid and Manchester City – although the absence of Alvaro Morata up front might induce more wholesale changes.
