Kepa Arrizabalaga broke Chelsea’s transfer record when he joined from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6 million. Now he is on the verge of breaking another.
After conceding five times against Liverpool on Wednesday, Kepa sits just one behind Dmitri Kharine for the most goals conceded in a Premier League campaign by a Chelsea keeper.
Kharine conceded 48 goals in the 1993-94 season for the Blues in 40 appearances, an average of 1.2 per game. Unlike Kepa, Kharine conceded 48 goals when 42 matches were still being played in England’s top division.
Kepa’s goals conceded per game (1.42) is already worse than Kharine’s and he has been beaten 47 times in just 33 matches. Should the Spain international let in two against Wolves, he will overtake Kharine as the most porous goalie in Chelsea’s Premier League history.
Liverpool’s five goals against Chelsea on Wednesday night came from just seven shots on target. Their expected goals (xG) was 1.27, Chelsea’s was 2.58. It means with a better goalkeeper, Chelsea won’t have lost at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Chelsea need at least one point against Wolves on Sunday and Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will have a big decision to make on who starts in goal for the Blues.