Our shutout in yesterday's game at Stamford Bridge was hard-earned. The visitors, particularly in the opening 45 minutes, created several goalscoring opportunities and Penders was tested on several occasions.

He produced good stops to deny Amad Diallo, but the best came late in the game. With the Blues leading by two goals after Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer had found the net, Bryan Mbeumo rasped a 20-yard drive toward our goal.

Penders produced a full-length dive as the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and was cleared. Only the slow-motion replay showed that the Belgian goalkeeper had got a small but decisive touch on the ball to divert it onto the woodwork and preserve our clean sheet.

Alonso insisted that should not be taken lightly, with the Blues manager explaining after our win: '[The clean sheet] is very important, and it’s the second one in three Premier League games.

'We need many more and we don’t take them for granted. Three points and a clean sheet is good and we need to keep on repeating this scoreline.’

On Penders, he added: ‘Not just today, I think at Liverpool he was really solid. Mike had a very good performance today and was very stable for a goalkeeper.

'He has shown a good level [against Man United], and we kept another clean sheet, the second one in three games. Now we need to keep going.

'Mike has overcome the difficult moment that we had last Saturday and this is part of the development of any goalkeeper, or any player.’

The Blues return home after the international break to take on our old rivals, Leeds United. Secure your place early with Club Chelsea. VIP tickets available now.