Chelsea: Havertz needs to play as a No. 10 in order to beat Liverpool

Kai Havertz had an underwhelming debut against Brighton, but for one of the biggest tests of the season, Chelsea must play Havertz as a No. 10.

Kai Havertz’s highly anticipated debut in Chelsea blue wasn’t everything it was hyped up to be, but it isn’t the end of the world either. The German wunderkind showed flashes of brilliance and at the end of the day, the Blues went on to take all three points from the match. Havertz was adjusting to a new league with unfamiliar teammates, playing in a foreign system and at a position he isn’t the most comfortable in. In addition, he was in the middle of packing up his whole life and moving it hundreds of miles away.

While some of these difficulties still persist, there are ways Frank Lampard can help ease Havertz into life in the Premier League. As Chelsea prepares to host the champions, Liverpool, Lampard’s side has a daunting task ahead of it. The Blues have a host of injuries and the best way to weather the storm—and give themselves a chance at three points—is by starting Havertz in his preferred No. 10 role.

In order to contain the lethal attack of Liverpool’s front three, it’s likely Lampard strays away from the 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 hybrid formation he used against Brighton. That set-up saw Chelsea play on the back foot for a majority of the opening match. If the Blues concede possession, the game is as good as over.

Chelsea needs to have at least 45 percent of the possession in order to keep the game under control, Havertz will help the Blues do that from the central midfield in a 4-2-3-1. Playing Havertz there allows him more of the ball. The Blues struggled to get their €80 million man involved against Brighton, which is largely the reason his debut was deemed unimpressive. The German will get the opportunity to link up with his international teammate and friend—Timo Werner—more often when playing in the middle of the park. Havertz’s creativity also unlocks Liverpool’s midfield, which is the champion’s weakest unit (at least until Thiago Alcantara is match fit).

Allowing Havertz to play as a No. 10 further shifts his focus. Against the Seagulls, he did too much defending and playing off the ball. When lining up as a winger in a match where Chelsea has a minority of possession, the Blues’ wide attackers are tasked with tracking back to defend runs from opposing fullbacks. Having Havertz mark a defender is a waste of his talent against a lower league team, more so against Liverpool. Therefore, allowing him freedom going forward is Lampard’s best option. Further, it gets Callum Hudson-Odoi—who assisted against Liverpool in the last match—involved. Hudson-Odoi is currently the side’s only fit winger and sacrificing his minutes for experiments, like using Ruben Loftus-Cheek as a pseudo-second striker, would be foolish in a match of this magnitude.

Overall, the 4-2-3-1 gives Chelsea a better chance at dictating play, as well as remaining defensively stable. N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic can run the show in a double pivot, freeing up Havertz to focus solely on attacking the Reds. His passing ability, innovation and technical skills need to be maximized if the Blues want any chance of getting a result. Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are out, but a front four of Havertz, Hudson-Odoi, Werner and Mason Mount may be enough firepower to get the job done.

Havertz’s time at Chelsea will see him play in a plethora of different positions. The flexibility and versatility he offers Lampard is part of the reason Roman Abramovich was willing to match the club’s transfer record for the 21-year-old. However, on the Premier League’s biggest stage, Lampard would be foolish not to line the German up in his preferred No. 10 role.