David Luiz receives his fair share of criticism, but he offers something from the back that no other centre-back can provide.
Luiz is erratic, often unreliable, but possesses technical ability head and shoulders above many of his defensive counterparts.
In many ways, he paved the way for the modern breed of defender to come to the fore. The likes of Virgil Van Dijk will have looked up to him upon his initial transfer to Chelsea in 2011.
Eight years on, Luiz is still performing at the top of the game. Testament to that view is the sheer number of through balls he’s played in the league this season.
As shown on the Premier League’s website, Luiz has played 39, which is 12 more than nearest challenger Jorginho. For perspective, Paul Pogba’s on 11 – Luiz is a centre-back.
This is likely due to Sarri looking to get the most out of Luiz’s expansive passing range. He’s been crucial for us this term, which is why he MUST get a new contract.
