Andy Robertson strongly criticized Moises Caicedo for his ‘really bad tackle’ following Ryan Gravenberch’s departure on a stretcher due to an ankle injury during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final win against Chelsea.
Virgil van Dijk secured Liverpool’s tenth League Cup triumph in thrilling fashion with a goal in the 28th minute of extra time, sustaining the club’s aspirations for a historic quadruple in Jurgen Klopp’s farewell season as manager.
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The 64th League Cup final delivered a spectacle filled with intense moments and controversy, including disallowed goals for offside by both Van Dijk and Raheem Sterling during regular time at Wembley.
A jubilant Klopp celebrated exuberantly as he clinched his eighth trophy for Liverpool, yet Gravenberch’s first-half injury slightly dampened the triumph’s shine.
During his post-match interview with Sky Sports, the Liverpool head coach affirmed that Gravenberch had suffered ligament damage to his ankle, with the Dutch midfielder seen on crutches following the match.
‘There were two teams who were fighting extremely hard and the referee did not have the level of the game,’ Klopp told Sky Sports.
‘That’s how it is, I’m sorry for that, I know now you’ll make a story of that but everybody saw that.
‘It was not even a foul! He did not even whistle a foul! Then the fourth official explains to me that they cannot give a card. Oh, good idea!
‘These boys, I’m not sure if it’s too much, too quick or whatever for them but this situation was for me obvious. We saw a Chelsea foot stamping on the ankle, it’s everything you need for a card.
‘I hope it’s not bad, they did the X-ray so it’s not broke, but the ligaments got something and that’s how it is. It’s all bad, but everything else is really good.’
Liverpool defender Robertson expressed his dismay at Caicedo’s tackle, stating to Sky Sports that he was hopeful for his teammate’s recovery, keeping his ‘fingers crossed.’
‘Ryan’s [injury] is a really bad tackle. You can’t paint in any other way,’ the Scotland full-back said.
‘It’s a really bad tackle on his ankle and you’ve just got to hope it’s not as bad as the pain he was feeling on the pitch.
‘So fingers crossed for that one and and hopefully, slowly but surely, we get the lads back because it is mounting up now and we have to keep going the way we’re going just now.
‘But hopefully we start introducing players back into the squad and we get stronger and stronger.
‘Then hopefully we’ll be back to a fully fit squad soon enough that we can really push until the end of the season.’