Kai Havertz has to play instead of Romelu Lukaku, demand fans on social media

Romelu Lukaku hasn't endeared himself to Chelsea supporters since his return this season and that was made evident once again on Tuesday night.

Lukaku was dropped for the Blues' Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Lille with Kai Havertz played as the lone striker instead.

Havertz made an instant impact for Thomas Tuchel's side scoring the opening goal in their 2-0 win after just eight minutes.

The German was impressive for the European champions, showing a display that was markedly different to Lukaku's last.

In Saturday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, Lukaku had the fewest touches of the ball - seven - ever recorded for a player on the pitch for at least 90 minutes in a Premier League game since such data began to be collected in full in the 2003-04 season.

And contrasting the two displays, Chelsea fans were adamant who they wanted to lead their line - especially ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

'Tuchel has to play Havertz on Sunday as the No 9, it's non-debatable, just watch that game, Liverpool will offer us plenty of opportunities to attack and we looked really fluid and impressive tonight.

'Lukaku could and probably should become an afterthought unless he improves,' wrote one supporter.

'Play Havertz as your top 9 going forward then buy goal scoring wingers for next season.

'Find another club for Lukaku, because I don't think Chelsea will change their play for him,' wrote another.

Speaking post-match, Tuchel heaped praised on Havertz for his display against the Ligue 1 champions.

'For Kai, I'm very pleased, he's been very strong for weeks now,' said Tuchel.

'He has really stepped up and his effort is immense, his work rate is immense, and the volume, the areas of the pitch that he covers for us is very, very good.

'He was again decisive, he created chances, got involved and was never shy of defending. We played with a very aggressive high line with Hakim, with all three offensive players together.

'It was the formation to have intensity, and a high work rate consistently throughout the whole match and they all did very well.'