'The problem with Enzo' - Ex-Liverpool man issues verdict on Romeo Lavia vs Enzo Fernandez battle at Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has got the best out of a number of player since arriving at Chelsea. The Italian has made a strong start to life at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues currently in third place, even sitting above an Arsenal side that finished head and shoulders above Chelsea last season.

One of the most impressive players over recent weeks has been midfielder Romeo Lavia who, at the age of 20, is showing he belongs at the very top of the Premier League. Lavia is even keeping a more than £100million player out of the team in Enzo Fernandez, who has been left on the bench, behind the Belgian and Moises Caicedo.

“From the first day he took the sessions, he was very clear on what he wanted to do and I think the players have picked up really well,” Lavia said of Maresca recently Stadium Astro YouTube channel. “We know we’ve still got a long way to go but it is definitely going the right direction.”

Meanwhile, Maresca has said of the Lavia-Caicedo partnership: “First of all, it's a matter of balance. In this moment, Romeo and Moi give us physicality and strength in the middle. This is the reason why we found the option with Malo [Gusto] in the pocket.”

Plenty of pundits have had their say on Fernandez and his lack of appearances, and now former Liverpool man Steve Nicol has had his say on why Lavia is getting the nod ahead of Enzo. “Well, he complements Caicedo,” he told ESPN.

“You know the problem with Enzo. Enzo doesn’t get around the field very well, certainly not what you should at the top end of the Premier League, and that’s the biggest thing for me. With Caicedo, he’s now got somebody else who’s working with him, instead of trying to do it all on his own.”