Danny Drinkwater ends Chelsea exile as flop turns out for Under-23s which ends in disappointing 3-1 Liverpool loss
CHELSEA outcast Danny Drinkwater has been seen in a Blues shirt but it was only for the Under-23s.
The struggling midfielder started against Liverpool but it was an afternoon to forget as his team lost 3-1.
Drinkwater, 30, has not played for Chelsea’s first team since August 2018 and also struggled for game time on loan at Burnley and Aston Villa since.
Once a Premier League winner with Leicester, his career has taken a nose dive since he left the King Power in 2017.
He was linked with several moves away from Stamford Bridge this summer but none of them materialised leaving him stranded in West London.
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Chelsea were beaten by the Reds’ three quickfire first half goals.
Goals from Rhys Williams, Jake Cain and a Liam Miller penalty gave the home side a commanding lead at Liverpool’s academy pitch.
A late spot kick from Bryan Fiabema gave the Blues a consolation but was too little too late.
Over the summer, Drinkwater was linked with Valencia and a shock reunion with old Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri at Sampdoria.
Neither move came to fruition and Drinkwater has been left to keep himself as fit as possible with Chelsea’s reserve sides.
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Former Manchester United man Drinkwater is on £110,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge but revealed last month he is seeing a psychologist as money ‘doesn’t solve anything’.
In recent times the ex-England international has been charged with drink driving, been beaten up outside a nightclub last September and headbutted former Villa team-mate Jota.
Drinkwater opened up about falling out of love with football, but was looking to rebuild his career.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “I know my Chelsea move hasn’t worked out how anybody would have wanted and I’ve made mistakes, but it’s not as simple as me just not playing football or picking up a wage.
“Money doesn’t solve anything. The pay cheque doesn’t really help at all, you don’t even think about money.
“There have been things that come above football that have not been as simple as I’d like.
“I’m not looking for sympathy, f*** me I don’t want that, but I suppose I’d just like people to understand it’s not all gravy when you earn so much money and that I do care.”