Belgian turned Carabao Cup tie in Blues' favour at Liverpool
Thursday 27 September 2018 15:44, UK
Eden Hazard may have scored an "unbelievable" goal against Liverpool but the Chelsea talisman is still improving, insists Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham.
Hazard had a game-changing impact at Anfield on Wednesday night, stepping off the bench in the second half with his side trailing 1-0 to play a role in Emerson Palmieri's equaliser before scoring a fine solo effort to win the third round Carabao Cup tie.
The in-form Belgian has already come up with five goals and two assists in the Premier League this season - but Higginbotham insists there is still more to come.
"He's a player that is getting better and better," Higginbotham told Sky Sports News. "I don't personally think he's at his peak yet.
"He's got the potential to go and get 20 goals at least.
"His goal against Liverpool was unbelievable. I think what you saw in this goal was everything that makes Hazard such a standout player: strength, composure, pace... and he really is an incredible player.
"I agree with [Sky Sports pundit] Jamie Carragher, I think he is the best player in the Premier League at the moment. I think he's a player who keeps improving all the time as well."
Chelsea have been a more attacking team this season under the management of Maurizio Sarri and Higginbotham believes Hazard is thriving under that approach.
"The way that Sarri wants to play, he near enough defends with three or four and attacks with six," said Higginbotham. "Because of that there's more players going forward so Hazard is afforded more space and able to have that free role when he picks the ball up.
The minute Hazard came on there was fear then. The Liverpool players retreated.
"He makes such a big difference to the team. In terms of when he came on against Liverpool, not just the goal he scored but the way he changed the emphasis of the game completely and freed other players up.
"The minute Hazard came on there was fear then. The Liverpool players retreated and that enabled Cesc Fabregas to have more time and space on the ball and it got Chelsea back on the front foot."
