There was plenty of chopping and changing of the centerback pair last season. It is time for Frank Lampard to reward Chelsea’s good performances this year.
Perhaps more than any other pair, trio, or group on a field, the centerback pair lives and dies off one another. Wingers can have good games alone, strikers too, really any midfield or attacking position. But it is extremely rare for a pair of centerbacks to have completely different games. Generally, if one is great the other is too and the opposite is also true.
Last season, Frank Lampard struggled to find a centerback pair he could trust once Antonio Rudiger returned to fitness. At about the same time, Fikayo Tomori fell out of favor and Andreas Christensen began to get chances. The closing stages of the season seemingly had a new pairing (or even trio) every week.
This season, Lampard needs to reward pairs when they do well together. Rotation is important, but it can be mitigated at the back. After being fantastic against Brighton, Lampard needs to stick with Christensen and Zouma for Liverpool despite Thiago Silva looming.
Separate the keeper letting them down, the pair didn’t put a foot wrong. Kepa Arrizabalaga got to see that shot get wound up from outside the box and he still didn’t dive in time to stop what was a very savable and telegraphed goal. That cannot be blamed on the centerback pairing. They kept Brighton quiet outside of that.
Christensen especially had a good game as he swept things up as the ball came through centrally and dropped deeper as it came down the flank. Zouma had to keep an eye on Tariq Lamptey and mostly held deeper throughout, but he too did fantastically.
Minus Arrizabalaga’s error, the pair themselves were at fault for zero goals. They did their work to keep a clean sheet. That needs to be rewarded by another start against Liverpool.
Yes, Silva is waiting in the wings for his debut. Lampard also seems to have a strange obsession with Rudiger coming good again suddenly despite not really having a string of performances to show it. Both the German and the Brazilian should get their chance in the League cup fixture, not against Liverpool.
In theory, having a consistent pair should lead to more stable performances for both players. If one messes up, Lampard could consider changing them out for the next match (opponent dependent) but getting that partnership formed and rewarding it for doing well will help Chelsea more in the long run.
Brighton and Liverpool are obviously different opponents, but the function of the centerback pair should not change so much that a new player is required. Christensen and Zouma did well and deserve the chance to do so again against another opponent. If the pair fumbles against Liverpool and then Silva and Rudiger do well in the cup, then a conversation can be had about a new pair. But not before then. Until then, reward the Dane and the Frenchman for their Brighton performance.