As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Benitez urges Chelsea to start Havertz ahead of Lukaku in FA Cup final

Former Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez says Kai Havertz should start ahead of Romelu Lukaku in today's FA Cup final against Liverpool.

Writing in The Times, Benitez - who won the Cup in 2006 with Liverpool - insists that Havertz 'brings more mobility' which would trouble Liverpool's centre back pairing, likely to be Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Benitez said: "Liverpool have centre-backs who are big, strong and good in the air and because of those characteristics I think that facing someone like Kai Havertz will cause them more of a problem than a target man

"Havertz brings more mobility, with the aim of dragging opponents out of position, and he would be supported by two players behind.

"Lukaku was a big success at Inter Milan because Antonio Conte played to his strengths, but Chelsea have more options up front.

"In Chelsea's past two matches against Liverpool, Tuchel has gone with Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount. Timo Werner is another alternative and my feeling is that it could be a similar plan."

Video of the day:

About the author

Paul Vegas

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free