*Time to take Kepa out of the firing line

 

Confidence is key for goalkeepers, but right now Kepa Arrizabalaga's is missing. His boss Frank Lampard accepted as much in his post-match interview after another error from his Spanish No1 had cost Chelsea another goal.

This time it was a casual pass out from the back which was too easily intercepted by Sadio Mane for Liverpool's second. Over recent months there have been misjudgements, technical flaws and breakdowns in communication. It all adds up to a nervousness in Chelsea's backline and muddled decision making by the team's goalkeeper.

The effects of that were plain to see just 13 minutes into the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool when Kepa went darting to the side of his penalty area but lost the race for a loose ball to Mohamed Salah. He was fortunate to get away with that one but his second-half blunder will be replayed over the coming days.

While Kepa is young for a keeper at 25 and has time on his side to recover his form and realise the potential which convinced Chelsea to make him their club record signing, Lampard can't afford to wait for the mistakes to dry up. Chelsea are linked with Edouard Mendy but even if the Rennes keeper doesn't arrive, a change is surely needed to restore some belief at the back.

If Chelsea truly have ambitions of competing with the likes of Liverpool at the top end of the table this season - and their heavy transfer spending has increased expectations - they can't afford their defensive struggles to be a feature of the season ahead, as they were of the season just gone.

- Peter Smith.