Kalidou Koulibaly the difference as Chelsea scrape opening win at Everton

Left-footed centre-backs able to pick a pass are very much in vogue in the modern era, especially in the Premier League.

Manchester United signed Lisandro Martinez solely for the reason he is adept at playing out from the back with his left foot, while Pep Guardiola cannot set his team up without one.

At Chelsea, such a requirement is even more pivotal given they deploy a three-man backline. Over the past few seasons, Antonio Rudiger benefited from his time on the training ground with Thomas Tuchel to become an additional weapon in the role, but new signing Kalidou Koulibaly, in one match-winning pass in Chelsea’s cagey 1-0 opening day win at Everton, showed he could perhaps become an instant upgrade.

After just surviving relegation last season by the skin of their teeth, Evertonians’ optimism for better to come was palpable pre-match.

A tifo of Frank Lampard with his fist clenched like a Soviet leader rallying the workers was unveiled next to an image of the Beatles in Everton scarves, but any positivity soon dispersed after Ben Godfrey was forced off with a nasty-looking injury with just 15 minutes on the clock.

Yet, for all their dominance of possession and mammoth total of 13 first-half corners – two off the Premier League record for corners in the opening period - Chelsea could not find that that killer pass.

It was left to a man not renowned for being a playmaker to unlock the hosts with a slotted pick-out for Ben Chilwell, who was fouled for the penalty that broke the deadlock. It was not the impact most expected from Koulibaly, especially this soon into his English adventure.

It is one of the reasons Chelsea went big for the 31-year-old, for so long overlooked by the biggest European clubs, given he always