Kepa Arrizabalaga made headlines for the wrong reasons once again during Chelsea’s 3-3 draw at home to Southampton on Saturday.
A Timo Werner brace and Kai Havertz goal looked to have ensured that the Spanish goalkeeper’s error did not cost the Blues any points, then Jannik Vestergaard popped up with an injury time equaliser.
Kepa returned to the Blues XI, making his first club appearance in almost a month as new signing Edouard Mendy missed out with a thigh issue.
Chelsea opened the scoring through a fine individual effort for Werner just past the quarter-hour, completely outfoxing Jan Bednarek on the turn before slotting past Alex McCarthy.
The German doubled his tally just before the half-hour, again stealing a march on the hapless Bednarek.
Werner raced in behind the struggling Saints defender, chested on and then clipped over the advancing McCarthy – before heading into the empty net.
The 2-0 lead had Chelsea in buoyant mood, with the hosts appearing fluid on the ball and more comfortable in their developing system.
Chelsea were forced out of cruise control just before the break when Southampton pounced after robbing Kai Havertz deep in Blues territory.
Lethal finisher Ings latched onto the through ball, rounded Kepa and slotted home to put the Saints back in the clash, trailing 2-1.
Chelsea held their lead until the break, but will have been hugely frustrated to have conceded having dominated the bulk of an engaging first half.
Che Adams blasted Southampton level at 2-2 ahead of the hour, firing high into the net after sloppy play at the back from Chelsea.
Kurt Zouma’s miscued backpass initially put Kepa in trouble, with the Spain goalkeeper then missing the ball and then later crashing against the near post.
Adams latched onto the loose ball and blasted home to level.
But Chelsea rallied immediately to regain the lead, Werner teeing up Havertz for a neat dinked finish to make it 3-2.
Werner added an assist to his goal brace to drag the Blues back into the ascendancy, with Havertz capping a fluent move.
Jannik Vestergaard bludgeoned home the added-time equaliser from a free-kick that Chelsea failed to clear.
Southampton were back level at 3-3, with Chelsea hanging on in the closing stages.
The final whistle came shortly afterwards though, leaving the teams sharing the spoils.
