The Blues goalkeeper’s impressive stop against Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo in September has made a nine-save shortlist from across the season.

From a well-worked Villa set-piece, Boubacar Kamara headed a Villa corner back into danger and found Zaniolo eight yards out.

The Italian’s strike looked a certainty to hit the net, catching the volley with real power, but Sanchez produced an exceptional piece of goalkeeping, somehow reacting to tip the ball over the crossbar at the Matthew Harding end.

The stop has already claimed September’s Save of the Month crown, with Sanchez becoming the first Chelsea stopper to win that award since Kepa Arrizabalaga claimed the prize in October 2022, also for a save against Aston Villa.

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