
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.
"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."