Chelsea’s David Luiz is a liability at centre-half, says Jamie Redknapp

Jamie Redknapp believes Chelsea defender David Luiz is proving a liability at the Blues.

The Brazil international was partly at fault for Steven Naismith’s winner as Jose Mourinho’s men suffered a 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The 24-year-old, who was a summer target for Barcelona, vacated his centre-half station alongside John Terry in the lead up to the home side’s 45th-minute strike.

Ricardo Carvalho, William Gallas and Terry were all defensive stalwarts during Mourinho’s first reign at Stamford Bridge as the Blues boasted one of the meanest defences in the top-flight.

And Redknapp feels Luiz is not best-equipped to play a centre-half role despite the Brazilian’s obvious ability.

“Mourinho built his previous Chelsea success on defenders who defend: Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and William Gallas,” Redknapp wrote in his Daily Mail column.

“His ideal is a goalkeeper, four defenders and a midfield holder and then the rest are told: ‘You go and win us the match.’

“Luiz wants to play all the time. Yes, he has excellent technical ability and may even be the best ball-playing central defender in the world.

“He has won a Champions League and may well win a World Cup with Brazil. But in the Premier League he is a liability for his team and too much of a maverick.

“He is certainly better suited to the Champions League and I wonder if Jose will use him more in Europe and will rest Terry, with Gary Cahill and Terry preferred in the league. It seems the best solution judging by what happened at Goodison.”