Moises Caicedo’s wince-worthy challenge on Ryan Gravenberch was not deserving of a red card, despite the Liverpool midfielder needing to leave the field on a stretcher in the Carabao Cup final.
That’s the opinion of ex-referee Mike Dean, who said Caicedo’s studs-up challenge did not constitute serious foul play.
Gravenberch had offloaded the ball on the left flank when he was caught on the ankle by Caicedo and rolled his ankle as a result of the impact.
Liverpool’s injury crisis deepens
The Netherlands international was taken off on a stretcher to deepen Liverpool’s midfield injury crisis, with Curtis Jones, Dominic Szoboszlai and long-term absentee Thiago Alcantara already on the treatment table.
Liverpool’s lack of experienced options on the bench meant Joe Gomez was brought on in place of Gravenberch to join Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo in the midfield.
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Caicedo did not even receive a yellow card for the challenge and Dean did appear to concede that that was a mistake from on-field referee Chris Kavanagh.
Jurgen Klopp furious with ref Chris Kavanagh for not punishing Moises Caicedo’s challenge on Ryan Gravenberch, who has just been carried away on a stretcher. #CarabaoCupFinal #CHELIV
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) February 25, 2024
“I think he’s [Caicedo] caught his foot on his [Gravenberch’s] foot,” Dean said. “For me, it could’ve been a caution, or come back to book him, it’s the second foul from Caicedo so he’s treading a fine line.
“I know the VAR can’t inform the referee but tackles like that, he’s seen a foul, tried to play on that’s when you say to the referee: ‘It’s not serious foul play, but it’s a yellow card’. It is a yellow card offence, no doubt whatsoever.”