Thiago Silva and Benoît Badiashile look like the real deal following Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The new Chelsea centre back partnership put in a performance that has been heralded on social media as, despite Chelsea’s sub-par performances this season, they kept a clean sheet at one of the hardest grounds to play at in the Premier League.
As the perfect mix of experience and youth, Silva (38) and Badiashile (21) put in a great shift at the back, displaying good positioning, a great range of passing and defensive awareness to deal with anything Liverpool could throw at them.
Badiashile even had the opportunity to put Chelsea 1-0 up after meeting the end of a Hakim Ziyech free-kick, but Alisson produced a wonder save to keep the scores level.
Benoit Badiashile’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:
99 touches
88% pass accuracy
75 passes completed
7 ball recoveries
3 clearances
2 interceptions
1 key pass
1 big chance createdRock at the back. 🪨 pic.twitter.com/ln6jwsLr5I
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 21, 2023
Thiago Silva’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:
112 touches
91% pass accuracy
90 passes
9 passes into final ⅓
6 clearances
3 interceptions
3 duels won
3 blocks
2 aerial duels won
1 chance created
1 clean sheet
1 tackle made
1 shot
0 x dribbled past
0 foulsO Monstro. 💪 pic.twitter.com/xI8nJdS5Ce
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 21, 2023
The stats show it all, and though many have become used to Thiago Silva’s astute defensive performances, he still deserves credit for putting in shifts like this, especially as he approaches 40 years of age.
Silva’s maturity and experience will only benefit Badishile as he learns his trade in the Premier League, and Chelsea fans are hopeful that this is the start of a great career for the French centre-back, and signs of a great partnership for the rest of the season.
Badiashile and Thiago Silva appreciation tweet absolutely ridiculous. So f*cking good. Let’s not forget Cucurella kept Salah quiet all game. Defence slowly taking form.
— Mod (@CFCMod_) January 21, 2023
2 games, 2 clean sheets. Benoit Badiashile. pic.twitter.com/JHtbp7taCY
— Raf (@CFCRaf2) January 21, 2023
Badiashile is the perfect example of the kind of recruitment I’ve been begging for
— Monstar (@monstarcfc) January 21, 2023
Chelsea vs Liverpool is usually a clash of heavyweights as two of the best teams in the Premier League face off, though today at kick-off it was 9th place vs 10th place. Both teams are having incredibly underwhelming seasons as they linger around mid-table, unable to put together a string of consistent performances.
It has prompted Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to dip into his pockets and seriously splash the cash. So far this transfer window, Chelsea have recruited Badiashile, Mudryk and Felix among other promising talents.
Upwards of £150 million has been spent on incomings in a desperate attempt to push for top 4, though it is unclear what Boehly’s exact transfer strategy is. Mudryk made his debut today as well as Badishile, and looked extremely energetic. If the new signings’ performances so far are anything to go off, Chelsea might be turning over a new leaf for the second half of this season.
