Chelsea must replace 'SCARED' star - Carragher

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 21 Oct 2024 09:48 BST
• 4 min read

Jamie Carragher has urged Chelsea to sign a new goalkeeper following Robert Sanchez’s performance against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

The Spain international has been reinstated as Chelsea’s number one by Enzo Maresca, but his shaky start to the new campaign has raised question marks over whether the Blues are capable of fighting at the very top of the Premier League table.

Sanchez enjoyed a sublime performance during Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth in September, however he has made several errors when playing out from the back this season, while he has been accused of being “scared of the ball” by Liverpool legend Carragher.

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While Sanchez could do nothing to prevent Mohamed Salah’s 29th-minute penalty at Anfield, Carragher believes the Chelsea goalkeeper could’ve prevented Curtis Jones’ eventual winner.

“In terms of control of the game, Chelsea were better, but what let them down was the goalkeeper,” Carragher told Sky Sports after the match.

“They need a new goalkeeper if they want to get back to where they want to be.”

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Robert Sanchez’s Liverpool nightmare

Sanchez conceded possession on several occasions at Anfield, while his blushes were spared by VAR after a reckless challenge on Jones was originally given as a penalty by on-field referee John Brooks.

Furthermore, Carragher has slammed the Spaniard for his role in Jones’ second-half strike.

“What I don’t like is that when he goes he turns his face. It’s almost like he’s scared of getting hit by the ball,” he said.

“You go back to Peter Schmeichel and when he’d come out he would just make himself as big as possible.

“He [Sanchez] comes out to Curtis Jones and Curtis Jones should be absolutely terrified that a ‘keeper is coming towards him, he’s 6ft 4in, he’s coming on top of him.

“But he [Sanchez] is scared of the ball and Curtis Jones and he’s turning his head away,” Carragher added. “You’ve got to get there and hopefully it hits you in the face and [you] keep it out.

Current ETV

Robert Sánchez

GK

Chelsea

Robert Sánchez

GK

Chelsea

€15.9M

ETV Range

€11.9M - €19.9M

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“We talk about Chelsea and the money they’ve spent and where they still need things. They need a new goalkeeper if they’re going to get back to where they want to be.”

Chelsea have spent €92.6 million on five new goalkeepers since Clearlake Capital’s arrival in 2022, with Genk wonderkid Mike Penders set to challenge Sanchez for the number one berth when he officially joins the club next summer.