David Luiz has come in for some big criticism this season at times, not least of all after his statue impression against Newcastle almost cost Chelsea the points. But against Bournemouth last time out he was back to his imperious best.
In the stats on WhoScored, that much is clear. With a final score of 7.43, he was the highest rated player who didn’t get a goal or assist. That came from his 2 tackles, his 5 clearances and his successful aerial duels.
He also had the most touches of any player on the pitch, showing the influence he has on the game from the back. He made more passes and played long balls than anyone else either. The Brazilian didn’t grab the headlines like Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso, but he was very effective.
Luiz hasn’t had a perfect season by any stretch of the imagination, but the team’s results and his improvement against the Cherries should guarantee his place is safe for another week.
