Chelsea ‘keeper joins Real Madrid

Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in their opening Premier League fixture of the season.

Axel Disasi’s debut goal pulled the Blues level in the first half after Luis Diaz gave the visitors the lead in the 18th minute at Stamford Bridge.

Ben Chilwell thought he had snatched the lead for the hosts minutes after the equaliser, but the 26-year-old saw his goal get chalked off as VAR concluded that he was offside.

Despite only taking a point away from the game, the West Londoners would have felt that they played well against tough opposition.

Mauricio Pochettino handed four players their competitive debuts in Chelsea colours, including goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who joined the club earlier this month for around £25m from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Spaniard started ahead of his fellow countryman Kepa Arrizabalaga, and the latter has now departed the Blues.

On Monday it was announced that Kepa had joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on loan.

Kepa has joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on loan

The Spaniard has been heavily linked with Spanish giants recently after Real ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, likely keeping him out of action for several months.

Kepa, 28, joined the Blues in 2018 when they activated his £71.6m release clause to lure him from Athletic Bilbao.

He remains the most expensive goalkeeper in football history, but his performances in London have been criticised on several occasions.

The Spain international has made 163 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, keeping 59 clean sheets, but has struggled for consistency and has made a number of costly errors.

Having fallen behind Edouard Mendy in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge under Thomas Tuchel, the Spaniard benefitted from Mendy’s injury problems last season and ultimately regained the first choice spot.

His contract doesn’t expire until 2025, and a season on loan with Los Blancos could help the goalkeeper revive his career and potentially impress Pochettino enough to reintegrate him into the Chelsea squad next term.