Alan Shearer singled out Moises Caicedo for special praise after Chelsea's 5-1 win over Bournemouth, highlighting the midfielder's willingness to carry out the 'nasty' side of the game for his team.
Chelsea flew out of the traps in Saturday's one-sided contest, with the returning Caicedo starting the attack that led to Jordan Henderson's stunning opening goal inside only two minutes. The hosts added a second just moments later as Morgan Rogers fired a deflected strike beyond former Chelsea goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic to send Stamford Bridge into raptures.
The impressive Joao Pedro netted either side of Evanilson's scrambled effort to tighten Chelsea's stranglehold on the game before Henderson curled home a sublime 70th-minute free-kick to cap off an unforgettable home debut for the veteran England international.
Shearer's analysis of Caicedo's performance
However, analysing the Blues' display in the Match of the Day studio, Premier League legend Shearer used his segment to applaud Henderson's midfield partner Caicedo. A calf injury meant Caicedo had managed a total of only 14 minutes this season prior to kick-off, but the Ecuadorian showed no signs of rustiness across what Shearer described as a 'superb' all-round performance in west London.
'The front three were brilliant again, as well as Jordan Henderson. But Caicedo makes such a difference to this Chelsea team because of his experience and his ability in that midfield both defensively and when he wins that ball, how he makes things look pretty simple but so effective in what he did,' the ex-England and Newcastle striker said.
Watching back Caicedo's contribution in the build-up to Henderson's opening goal, Shearer added: 'It's simple but the way he gets the ball… first thought is forward. Chelsea are on the front foot and his relationship and understanding allows Henderson [to advance forward] because he knows what's behind him, he knows he's got his back and has got the protection behind him.'
The 'nasty side' of the game
'It was a wonderful strike from Henderson but it starts with Caicedo winning the ball and playing it forward,' Shearer continued. On Rogers' goal to double Chelsea's advantage, he added: 'It was something very similar here. You can see his [Caicedo's] positioning, the ball eventually comes out and he wins it, he wins it really well, and then he passes it to Rogers, who finds himself [in space]. Alright, there's a little deflection in there but after three minutes he's played a huge part in what Chelsea are doing.'
According to Shearer, every club ideally needs a player like Caicedo who is ready and willing to perform the 'nasty side' of the game to help their team-mates. 'We've seen the attacking side but the defensive side of it, he reads the game so well,' he went on. 'He spots the danger and he cuts it out, his pressing. You need a little bit of the nasty side in there as well and he's not afraid to do that as well. Every single team needs that. The freedom that he gave Henderson was superb and their relationship.'
Caicedo's impact on Chelsea's win
While Chelsea's all-star attack tend to attract much of the attention when Xabi Alonso's side play well, Shearer believes Caicedo deserves just as much – if not more – credit for his contribution in the engine room. Shearer, the Premier League's all-time top goalscorer, added: 'The free-kick Henderson scored came from Caicedo spotting that [an interception], he's quick to react, he wins the ball, gets it into Cole Palmer, they get the free-kick and then, of course, we know exactly what happens. So he played a major part in what Chelsea did. We've spoken about that front three and rightly so, and what a day for Henderson as well, but it was Caicedo, I thought, who was absolutely superb.'
Saturday's result saw Chelsea rise to fifth place in the Premier League table, below London rivals Brentford only on goal difference. Alonso's men will look to pick up where they left off when they return to top-flight action against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend.
