This was one of Chelsea’s least elegant and most impressive wins in this astonishing run of theirs. Although Victor Moses was named man of the match, and Diego Costa took many headlines with his poacher’s strike to send Chelsea back to the top, the architect of this gritty victory was David Luiz. The Brazil defender organised and cajoled, tackled and intercepted, fighting successfully to ensure another clean sheet.

Frequently maligned, Luiz has come to the fore since the tactical masterstroke of the season occurred ten minutes into the second half of Chelsea’s chastening 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on September 24. It was then that Antonio Conte removed Cesc Fàbregas, inserted Marcos Alonso, and went to three at the back with Luiz in the