Triumphant Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Ryan Gravenberch has sustained ankle ligament damage and believes referee Chris Kavanagh “didn’t have the level” of the Carabao Cup final 2024.
Midfielder Gravenberch had to be stretchered off following a gruesome-looking challenge by Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo in the 25th minute of Liverpool’s added-time win for which the most expensive signing in British history was not cautioned.
“The fourth official was explaining ‘we cannot give a card’,” said Klopp, who began the game with a lengthy injury list including top scorer Mohamed Salah, forward Darwin Nunez, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and goalkeeper Alisson.
“Good idea. This situation was obvious for me, everything you need for a card. There were two teams fighting very hard and the referee didn’t have the level of the game.”
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Caicedo tackle on Gravenberch did not break ankle
Klopp said an x-ray had shown Gravenberch had not broken a bone and praised his youthful side, which included five players aged under 22 and three teenagers by the end of the contest.
“What happened here was absolutely insane – these things are not possible,” said Klopp, who announced in January that this will be his final season in charge of a team which leads the Premier League and remains in contention for the FA Cup and Uefa Europa League.
“The team, a squad, an academy full of character. I am so proud I could be part of that tonight.
“The craziest thing is we deserved it. We had lucky moments, they had lucky moments. The boys showed up.
“I am sure we brought on all the kids. We needed fresh legs. They were fresh but very young – but they did the job.
“The boys have trained for a long time with us, they know exactly what we have to do. But not only them – how about Harvey Elliott for 120 minutes? [Wataru] Endo walked to the ceremony with the stiffest legs.
“We didn’t mention Conor [Bradley], he was so good. Caoimhin [Kelleher], he was so good. We have the best keeper in the world and the best number two.”
SCENES! 🔴🏆#EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal PIC.TWITTER.COM/UIZIGXIK7C
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) FEBRUARY 25, 2024
Liverpool host Championship club Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round next. “We don’t have a team right now for Wednesday,” said Klopp.
“The guys who came on can maybe play again, the rest will get treatment on Monday. I love this country to bits but the schedule is not made for winning a lot.
“We will see the price we have to pay but we fight for everything, then we see what comes next. Somehow, against Southampton, there will be a team in Liverpool shirts.”
