ARTICLES

Chelsea backup star believes he should start vs Liverpool in Carabao Cup final

Chelsea star Kepa Arrizabalaga keen to start Carabao Cup final vs Liverpool

According to The Sun, Chelsea goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga wants Thomas Tuchel to start him over Edouard Mendy in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday. The highly-anticipated clash will take place at the Wembley Stadium, where both will look to add to their impressive trophy collections.

The cup competitions are usually reserved for the second choice keepers, with Mendy taking the starting spot during Premier League and Champions League games. However, Tuchel chose him over Kepa for the Club World Cup final, which disappointed the latter following his solid performances in the competition.

As such, the second choice star is hopeful that the Blues boss will select him to face off against Jurgen Klopp’s side on Sunday. That being said, the Spaniard is still wary about the situation, having struggled to convince Tuchel to land a starting berth ahead of the African Cup of Nations winner.

Could Kepa Arrizabalaga start against Liverpool on Sunday?

Tuchel in dilemma?

We cannot really blame the German coach for starting the 29-year-old over Kepa in the final against Palmeiras as we won the game 2-1 in the end. The boss may have felt the need to play his best shot-stopper to aid us in our aim of securing the Club World Cup title. Mendy is certainly the better choice at this moment, but the 27-year-old could have done a similar job based on recent form.

The former Athletic Bilbao man did well in the semi-finals as his crucial saves helped us to reach the final in the first place. One would feel for Kepa as he has proven his worth under the ex-PSG boss even if he had a hard time under Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea manager is open to selecting the Senegalese instead of Arrizabalga on Sunday, which could be the final nail in the straw. The Spanish international is continuously assessing his future options, and this could possibly add to his frustrations following the Club World Cup snub.

Would Kepa Arrizabalaga start over Edouard Mendy? (imago Images)

More Chelsea News

It is also claimed that the 27-year-old Spaniard will push to leave Stamford Bridge in the future if he does not receive more opportunities moving forward. A decision could be made at the end of this term, so the 48-year-old boss must consider everything before making his choice for Sunday’s lineup.

Tuchel still sees Mendy as his first-choice keeper, which could give us an idea about what is to come in the next match. But we are hopeful that Kepa will get his chance as he has already showcased his abilities more than enough times to play in such an important game. Let’s wait and see what the decision will be in the build-up to the cup final.

Rijo Sam Daniel

Just somebody who is crazy about the beautiful sport

Recent Posts

Chelsea star backed to make Old Trafford switch; ‘fresh opportunity’ on the cards

Jadon Sancho has hit the ground running in his season-long loan at Chelsea, with the Blues eyeing a permanent deal…

6 days ago

Chelsea star to push for Stamford Bridge exit; Manchester United keen

Chelsea appear to be rediscovering their form under Enzo Maresca, aiming for a top-four finish as they currently sit third…

6 days ago

Chelsea are eager to make a massive move for Barcelona right-back

In their bid to further bolster their defense, Chelsea are aiming to make a big move for the star right-back…

1 week ago

Chelsea unwilling to sanction sale of 10-goal star to Premier League rival

Christopher Nkunku is keen to leave Chelsea in January over lack of game time in the Premier League There has…

1 week ago

Chelsea lead the race for 23-goal European star to address striking woes

Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is on the radar of Chelsea Chelsea are riding high in the Premier League, sitting…

1 week ago

Chelsea shortlist two names as Maresca keen to strengthen one key area

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca eyeing defensive reinforcements in January Chelsea could well find themselves in the market to improve their…

1 week ago