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Chelsea – Liverpool combined XI

By David Cambridge

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Adam Lallana of Liverpool and Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Adam Lallana of Liverpool and Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 22: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on January 22, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 22: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on January 22, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Centre-back: Cesar Azpilicueta

Cesar Azpilicueta has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers in the four-and-a-half years since he joined Chelsea from Marseille, somehow even managing to maintain his high standards during the club’s disastrous run of results in the early part of last season (truth be told, he was probably the only Blues player whose value didn’t completely plummet). For some, he’s the best defender in the country – and that’s pretty high praise, even in an era famed for its dodgy back-lines.

It’s rare that you find a defender with such versatility: the Spaniard began his career as a creative midfielder who drew parallels with Andres Iniesta, before settling down as a forward thinking right-back. After Ashley Cole’s legs packed it in, Mourinho moved him over to the left side, and when Conte introduced his 3-4-3 earlier this season, he didn’t take very long getting used to playing as a centre-half, the left of a back three alongside Luiz and Cahill.

Outside of the very young and inexperienced (and desperately unlucky) Joe Gomez, who has spent more than a year out with a knee injury, there is really nobody of the same profile in the Liverpool squad. This is one area that Klopp badly needs to address during the coming transfer windows – if not this January one we’re still in: Lucas and Milner shouldn’t be playing in defence (although the latter has taken to playing left-back surprisingly well), and if Sakho is on the naughty step indefinitely, it’s time to bring in some reinforcements.

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