Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy believes Josh Acheampong shares similar attributes to a young Rio Ferdinand and has urged Enzo Maresca to play the teenager more.

The 19-year-old defender came into the Blues' XI on Saturday evening against Liverpool for what was only his second start of the season. Acheampong deputised with the likes of Wesley Fofana (concussion), Tosin Adarabioyo (calf), Trevoh Chalobah (suspended) and Levi Colwill (knee) all absent from the match at Stamford Bridge.

The Cobham graduate, who was promoted to the first team last season, made just his fourth appearance of the campaign in all competitions, with it being his second start. Acheampong, though, immediately made his presence felt up against Liverpool's £125million striker Alexander Isak in SW6.

It was an almost perfect all-round performance from Acheampong, who did not shy away from the physical battles with Isak - a proven Premier League striker - in what was the defender's fourth top-flight start for the Blues. Cundy cannot speak highly enough about Chelsea's teenage prodigy and had some extremely high praise for the defender.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Cundy said: "He has got many strings to his bow. But the thing that really impressed me when he...