Speaking to Premier League Productions (h/t The Mirror), Michael Owen believes Chelsea star Kepa Arrizabalaga should be held responsible for Andreas Christensen getting sent off.
Despite a number of stars missing, Chelsea competed with Liverpool on even terms. The pendulum swung in the Merseysiders’ favour when Christensen received his marching orders towards the end of the first half.
The Danish international was judged guilty of having brought down Sadio Mane after the Senegalese was put through by Jordan Henderson.
While the decision cannot be argued upon, Owen believes Kepa should also shoulder a major part of the blame.
“We hear a lot of the time about goalkeepers creating nervousness in their back four and I think that’s a perfect example.”
The Former English international’s opinion appears to have been clouded by an earlier error by the keeper.
Kepa advanced of his line earlier in the match only for Mohamed Salah to beat him to the ball. Thankfully on that occasion, Christensen was at hand to prevent Roberto Firmino from scoring.
“He did it earlier on in the game when he ran out of his box for no apparent reason. When your goalkeeper is nervous it runs throughout your team. He shouldn’t be running 25 yards out of his goal.”
While Kepa can he held guilty for a number of errors including the second goal, we feel he is being made use of as an easy target.
Kepa would have in fact made it easier for Mane to run into space and adjust his bearings had he not advanced.
With the Senegalese star’s pace set to outstrip him, Christensen’s decision to put his arms around Mane proved to be an error. Initially given a yellow, the decision was turned into a red after a VAR check.
While Owen has every right to call the decision as he sees fit, we feel Kepa is at this moment of time a soft target.
The player’s confidence looks shot and his nervousness is apparent. With the Edouard Mendy deal nearing its conclusion, it remains to be seen how Kepa reacts.
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