Alonso confirms Penders will start Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool

Xabi Alonso has confirmed Mike Penders will remain in goal for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup meeting with Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, backing the young goalkeeper to respond positively after his costly error against Tottenham Hotspur.

Penders made his first Premier League start in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat by Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The 21-year-old produced several important saves, but an own goal under pressure from Jan Paul van Hecke handed the visitors the lead. Tottenham scored again late on to bring Chelsea’s encouraging run of results to an end.

Alonso said the mistake had not damaged his faith in Penders and insisted responsibility for the defeat rested with the whole team.

“It’s part of the business; you need to deal with mistakes and we keep confidence in Mike and he will be in goal against Liverpool,” Alonso said.

“We win and we lose together and it’s part of the job to deal with mistakes, myself as well as everyone.”

The Chelsea manager also emphasised the need to support Penders and Geo Quenda, with both players adapting to their first Premier League starts.

“We support Mike and Geo as well, the guys starting their first games. He will want to prove he can do better – and we also have to show that,” Alonso added.

Chelsea must recover quickly against Liverpool, with another demanding match against Manchester United to follow. Defender Maxence Lacroix believes the Carabao Cup tie provides the ideal opportunity for the team to react.

“It’s a big game for us,” Lacroix said. “We want to go far in this competition and it’s good that we have a game like this now.”

Chelsea will need to improve their overall performance and remain calmer in decisive moments if they are to reach the next round.

“We have to show the reaction of a competitor. We want to show another face, we want to win there, and it’s going to be a big game,” Lacroix said.

Lacroix also offered his backing to Penders, saying the goalkeeper could use the setback as part of his development and still make an important contribution during the season.

“He is a young goalkeeper and he has a lot of talent. He will learn from this. This can happen in football careers and in life, everyone makes mistakes,” Lacroix said.

“We are behind him. He will help us this season and now we have to help him.”