Chelsea vs Liverpool: David Luiz's defensive masterclass deserved far better than a draw

The Brazilian's performance vindicated himself and Maurizio Sarri’s decision to bring him back into the fold this season

What do you need to defend against this Liverpool side? Athleticism, confidence, bravery, intelligence and technical skill. David Luiz had plenty of all of these today, was the best player on the pitch, and was desperately close to helping his team to what would have been a statement victory for Chelsea.

Even without that win, Luiz still made himself very clear, vindicating himself, and Maurizio Sarri’s decision to bring him back into the fold for this season.

Because it was tempting to think beforehand that Liverpool would be the worst possible opponents for Luiz. Because they are a team who likes to trick opponents into making mistakes, into playing too confidently with the ball at the back until they gift it away. That was the story when Liverpool beat Tottenham at Wembley: letting the Spurs defence have the ball, knowing that that they would give it back to Liverpool, in dangerous positions. And that is exactly how that game went.

The Luiz critics were ready for a repeat of that today. Because anyone who has seen him play knows that Luiz is a defender who likes to take risks with the ball. Who likes to take one extra touch, one extra second in possession, because he enjoys the feel of the ball at his feet and he trusts himself to use it well.

It was easy enough to see a repeat happening here. All it would take is one mistake from Luiz, playing a pass that was never on, and then Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah would be racing in behind him, into that vacant space he leaves, and Liverpool would be in. Classic Luiz, you can’t afford to let Liverpool in like that.

But this never happened. What we got instead was a near-masterclass of aggressive, risk-taking defending, with and without the ball. It was a performance to remind you that Luiz is one of the most gifted and accomplished defenders of his generation. And one who, even now at the age of 31, almost nine years after Chelsea first signed him from Benfica, is just as capable of exciting, entertaining, daring football as he ever was.

Chelsea were two minutes away from a clean sheet, and even when they did concede, two minutes from the end, it was a goal almost entirely out of nowhere, whistling well over Luiz’s head and into the top corner of Kepa’s net. It was a strike worthy of the point but it was no indictment of how Luiz had played.

Up until that point, Liverpool had not been able to find their way through. They had known how important Luiz was going to be to the course of the game. They tried from the start to lure him into mistakes. At one early moment Klopp even shouted at Salah for failing to try to take the ball when Luiz spent a second too long on the ball.

Luiz was hugely impressive (REUTERS)

But what was so impressive was how Luiz never compromised, never started to hack the ball away in a panic just because he knew that Liverpool were lurking. To do that would have been to betray his principles and, even more importantly, those of his manager Maurizio Sarri. And all it would have done is to gift Liverpool the ball higher up the pitch.

So Luiz continued to pass the ball. He never gave it straight back to Liverpool, as they were hoping he would. And at his best he passed with such assurance and conviction that he could cut through Liverpool’s swarm of pressing. Like when he arrowed a perfect long pass over the top for Willian to run onto early on, only for Willian to miscontrol it.

Chelsea’s first goal was in its own way almost as good as Sturridge’s spectacular late equaliser. And it all started with Luiz making an incisive purposeful pass, through the Liverpool press, ready for Hazard to flick on and run. Without a defender confident and sharp enough to play that first incisive pass, without someone as willing to take risks as Luiz, that move would never have happened.

Luiz helped Chelsea earn a deserved point (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

It feels ludicrous to criticise Hazard when he is playing like this but Luiz even helped to make a brilliant chance for him to put Chelsea 2-0 up. Luiz stole the ball from Salah, tried to advance and was fouled. With the free-kick, Ngolo Kante found Hazard but this time he could not beat Allison.

The rest of the second half was a different place, and Chelsea had to do far more defending to keep hold of their lead. Luiz’s abilities in this area after often overlooked but with his athleticism and competitive edge he is one of the best penalty box defenders in the game. He was let off when Xherdan Shaqiri missed a chance after escaping him, but aside from that he was immaculate.

One moment when Luiz won one header, ran after it and then won the second header himself was testament to that. Or a block on the line from a Firmino header. Or another crucial tackle on Shaqiri in the box, just before the equaliser.

Ultimately Luiz did not get the result his performance warranted, because of that brilliant Sturridge equaliser that cost Chelsea the win. But Luiz did prove some point here: That he is a uniquely gifted and accomplished footballer, that he gives passing teams a way to play brilliant football, and that he can defend against the best. Not that any of this was seriously up for debate.