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Former Newcastle boss, Alan Pardew has claimed that Chelsea are a much-weaker team when Thiago Silva isn’t in the side.

Silva was a notable absentee on Sunday, as Mauricio Pochettino released the team sheet to take on Everton.

The defender has been a steady presence in the Chelsea starting XI since he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain years ago, and many were surprised not to see him play against the Toffees.

Chelsea went on to lose the game 2-0, with goals in the second half from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin proving to be the difference at the end.

While speaking about Chelsea’s display on talkSPORT after the game, Pardew acknowledged the impact of Silva, and pointed out that the centre back makes the Blues better when he plays.

He said: “You look at the back four, and you have to say that Silva… I don’t know, he’s like 38 or something, 47, whatever he is. Take him out of the team and you think, ‘Wow, the team looks even weaker without him.’”

Silva has certainly made some mistakes lately, but he is still Chelsea’s best defender by some distance. And maybe the result against Everton would have been different if he was involved in it.