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#3. Kanté’s brilliance
N’Golo Kanté was back in Chelsea’s starting line-up after sustaining an injury in pre-season and only training for a few days. It was unusual to see the World Cup winner in a #8 role when he is renowned for playing as a deep-lying midfielder.
Despite this concern, Frank Lampard’s decision turned out to be a masterstroke. Kanté kept pressing and probing the midfield throughout the match, initiating multiple attacks in the opposition’s half. His labours bore fruit as he drove through under pressure from Liverpool players in the 35th minute. He passed the ball to Pulisic, which led to the American’s through ball to Giroud, who gave Chelsea the lead.
The Frenchman was crucial in transforming defence into attack. He made several key interceptions and tackles, highlighting his uncanny ability to read danger. For instance, he picked up on Joel Matip’s short pass to Virgil van Dijk and fed the loose ball to Chelsea’s attacking players. Overall, it was a very impressive game for the France international.
