Jamie Carragher called out Kepa Arrizabalaga’s unwanted involvement in the decisive moment between Chelsea and Manchester City yesterday.
Carragher slammed the 28-year-old goalkeeper live on air whilst commentating on the showdown at Stamford Bridge for Sky Sports.
Kepa certainly played a questionable part in Riyad Mahrez’s winner for City last night.
Just after the hour mark, Jack Grealish found space on the left-side of Chelsea’s box and was able to deliver first-time.
As the ball flashed across the six-yard area, the Spaniard between the sticks decided not to intervene with play.
Perhaps Kepa thought the danger would be delt with by his defender, or there was no opposition player arriving to cause any harm.
This decision proved to be the downfall of the home team.
Kepa helps Manchester City
Mahrez managed to beat Marc Cucurella to the cross at the back post and simply shot into an empty net.
Whilst Cucurella took most of the heat for failing to prevent the goal, Carragher also laid blame on his compatriot.
“I think the goalkeeper has to be doing an awful lot more. I don’t know if he’s worried about pushing it back into maybe the penalty spot for an onrushing player. But he’s certainly hesitated,” said the former Liverpool centre-back.
“Takes the decision not to go for the ball and that was a big mistake. Certainly with Mahrez at the back post and with his left-back switching off.”
Kepa and Cucurella can both argue over who should’ve done more, but ultimately their faults caused Chelsea to lose another Premier League tie.
Chelsea slump to another set-back
Graham Potter’s men have now tasted victory just once in their last eight outings.
Strangely though, Thursday’s loss to City was actually one of their best displays in this run.
Potter was forced to name a changed XI once again thanks to Mason Mounts injury, an 11 that was altered further by the wounds suffered by Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling.
By the final whistle, Chelsea had three teenagers on the field in the form of Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson.
All three youngsters performed well under the circumstances, especially Chukwuemeka, who withstood City for nearly 70-minutes after replacing Pulisic.
The trio might get another chance to face Guardiola’s pack in just two days, as the Blues travel to the Etihad for an FA Cup showdown.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
