Everyone associated with Chelsea will be heartbroken after another disappointing result. Having lost 2-0 to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge last weekend, the Blues would have greatly benefited from a victory against Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso’s side put in a strong performance at Anfield, but it was not enough to reach the EFL Cup quarter-finals, with Wesley Fofana missing the decisive penalty in the shootout. However, there was a positive for Chelsea, as one player took a major step forward.

Romeo Lavia gives Chelsea a huge reason for optimism

Injuries have completely derailed Romeo Lavia’s Chelsea career. The central midfielder has suffered ankle, hamstring and thigh injuries, among other issues, during his three years at Stamford Bridge.

What makes Lavia’s injury troubles even more frustrating is that he has regularly shown his quality when fit. The 22-year-old would be an ideal partner for Moises Caicedo, but Chelsea have rarely been able to field the pair together.

Lavia’s injury record has been so concerning that no Chelsea manager has trusted him to play a full 90 minutes since he joined in August 2023. This has become a major talking point over the last year or two, with fans eager to see him overcome that hurdle.

New manager Xabi Alonso even admitted earlier this season that completing 90 minutes was a mental hurdle Lavia needed to overcome. Thankfully, he can now put that concern to rest after playing the entire game against Liverpool on Wednesday night.

The Belgian not only completed his first 90 minutes for Chelsea but also worked hard throughout the game and looked as though playing a full match was nothing out of the ordinary for him. Lavia earned a 7/10 rating in The Chelsea Chronicle’s player ratings for his impressive display at Anfield.