Analysis: Is Lavia back on track to becoming a top-class midfielder?

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 36.

Player analysis: Romeo Lavia (Chelsea)

Romeo Lavia has only made 10 starts in another injury-ravaged season, but as Chelsea attempt to close out a top-five finish, he has quickly become indispensable to Enzo Maresca.

The Blues' head coach is certainly a big admirer of the Belgian, selecting him for his first match in charge against Manchester City back in August.

NEW

2-0

CHE

close

TV Info - Broadcasters

Hamstring issues have kept Lavia sidelined for prolonged spells in 2024/25, but, when available, he tends to be involved.

On the back of his tremendous display against Liverpool last weekend, Maresca said: "You can see we are a better team with Romeo. Unfortunately, he has been injured for most of the season."

What Lavia’s inclusion means to Chelsea’s shape

Maresca’s decision to bring Lavia back into his starting XI has seen Moises Caicedo shift to a hybrid right-back role.

It is a role the Ecuadorian is comfortable performing, playing the position on many occasions for Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion. 

When the Blues have possession, Caicedo slots into central midfield to the right of Lavia, with Enzo Fernandez pushed a little further to the left.

The Argentina international has greater freedom to attack when Caicedo and Lavia are sat next to him, and his goal against Liverpool showcased why that is such a positive.

When you check out Chelsea’s average-position map from the 1-0 home win over Everton on 26 April, it shows how fluid their formation becomes.

Click here to zoom in on image

When Caicedo inverts, we often see Palmer drift wider to the right, which gives the side five lanes of attack.

From a 2-3 base, Chelsea then have five offensive players spread across the pitch, eager to make things happen.

But why are Chelsea a stronger side when Lavia is in their midfield? 

Beating the press and breaking the lines

One of Lavia’s super strengths is his press resistance.

He very rarely gives possession away carelessly and always seems confident when receiving the ball under pressure in deeper areas.

This quality will no doubt greatly please Maresca as a head coach who likes his players to have control of the ball.

Lavia loses possession the third-fewest times among all Premier League midfielders (minimum 10 starts), averaging just 5.75 occasions per 90 minutes.

Chelsea team-mates Caicedo, Fernandez and Cole Palmer lose the ball far more frequently than the fit-again 21-year-old.

Chelsea midfielders' possession losses per 90

A good example of Lavia's calmness on the ball was seen against Liverpool last Sunday, when he turned Curtis Jones with ease as soon as the Reds midfielder got touch tight.

From this piece of play, Lavia fed a fantastic forward pass into Palmer (see below).

Click here to zoom in on image

Click here to zoom in on image

From a statistical perspective, no Premier League midfielder averages as many completed passes between the lines.

Lavia is a master at helping Chelsea break the press, and usually does it with ease, with his willingness to slide vertical balls in between opponents.

Midfielders with most completed passes between the lines

While many of his Chelsea colleagues can also make those line-breaking passes, it is Lavia who does so with the most confidence and quality.

This is why Palmer and Nicolas Jackson tend to perform better when Lavia is in the team.

As shown below, with two fabulous forward passes into their feet, the ex-Southampton man is a deep-lying midfielder who helps the Blues spring quality attacks too.

Seconds after this excellent pass from Lavia to Palmer (below), Chelsea opened the scoring against Liverpool through Fernandez.

Perfect passing against the champions

It is also worth noting that Lavia did not misplace a single pass in Chelsea’s 3-1 home win over Liverpool.

The midfielder kept the ball moving with perfect accuracy, showing good composure and terrific positional discipline, rarely moving away from central areas.

Click here to zoom in on image

Finishing a match with passing accuracy of 100 per cent is not new to Lavia.

In Chelsea’s frantic 4-3 win at Tottenham Hotspur last December, he made 29 successful passes from 29 attempts before coming off injured at half-time.

Click here to zoom in on image

There are very few players who are more reliable in possession than Lavia.

This should help the Blues cope well with Newcastle United’s high-octane approach at St James’ Park this weekend.

Disciplined defending

Lavia does not stray too far away from the middle of the pitch, so Chelsea feel less susceptible to transitions hurting them down the spine when he plays.

The sturdily built midfielder adds plenty of physicality too, winning 5.75 duels per 90 minutes.

This well-timed challenge against Liverpool (below) sprung a turnover opportunity, so Newcastle would be advised to avoid playing straight balls into players in that central domain.

Click here to zoom in on image

But it is Lavia's ability to intercept loose passes that marks him out as such an intelligent player.

He ranks second for the greatest number of interceptions per 90 minutes.

Midfielders' interceptions per 90 minutes

*Minimum 10 starts

With Chelsea playing away from home in a critically important contest, there is a sense that Lavia’s ball-winning qualities could help his side set up dangerous moments from turnovers.

With so much pace in the side, those moments are going to test the Magpies.

The key for Lavia now is to stay fit.

Chelsea supporters already appreciate the enormous value he brings, but if he can enjoy a sustained run of matches, this is a midfielder who will soon be regarded as top class on a much wider scale.

Also in this series