Chelsea have a “world class” goalkeeper on their hands in Edouard Mendy according to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was impressed with his display against Liverpool.
The Blues came from two goals down in the Premier League on Sunday to share the spoils in an epic 2-2 encounter with Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp was without his first-choice ‘keeper Alisson, so Caoimhin Kelleher deputised in his absence, and he produced a commendable showing to keep his side in the game during spells when Chelsea were on top at Stamford Bridge.
At the other end of the field Edouard Mendy was equally as impressive as he produced a number of top saves to limit Liverpool to just two goals after their early flurry, including a fine last-ditch dive to deny Mohamed Salah on the hour mark.
Reflecting on an exhilarating game in the capital, Alexander-Arnold felt a draw was a “fair” result, heaping particular praise on Chelsea’s Senegalese shot-stopper for his part in the four-goal thriller.
“It was an even second half,” Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool’s official website.
“They probably had a lot more of the ball than us, especially in our defensive third and in and around our box, but we defended well and didn’t give them too many chances.
“When Caoimhin was needed he’s pulled off two world-class saves in the first and second half and he’s stepped into Ali’s shoes and done really well today. It’s a credit to him, but we defended well and never gave them too many chances and we had the better chances in the second half.
“But when you are up against a world-class team with a world-class goalkeeper he makes world-class saves. So, like I said, I think a point apiece is fair.”
The England international felt his side got complacent after racing into a 2-0 lead through Sadio Mane and Salah, with Thomas Tuchel’s men hitting back before half-time through a sublime Mateo Kovacic volley and Christian Pulisic.
He added: “We started the game well and it was what we set out to do, we had a game plan and we did that first half.
“Probably not everything we set out to do but we scored two quite early goals. Going 2-0 up was obviously what we wanted, and then last five or 10 minutes of the first half we’ve took our foot off the gas and let them back in.
“That first goal, no-one is in the changing room pointing fingers or anything, there’s nothing you can do about them, a world-class strike.
“The second one, there was a couple of mistakes and it could have been prevented but they took their chances and we took ours. At the end of the day it was a fair and even point.”