Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed that the referee and his assistants were not up to « the level of the game » as he ranted about the officiating during the Carabao Cup final. Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute winner in extra-time gave the Reds a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley, but controversy reigned following key decisions at Wembley.
Van Dijk had a goal disallowed in the first half when Wataru Endo was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up for acting as a ‘blocker’. Klopp also felt that Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo should have been punished for a foul that left Ryan Gravenberch on a stretcher.
Speaking after the game, Klopp said the referee « did not have the level of the game » and continued to rant about the officials, questioning whether decisions are having to be made too quickly and accuracy is forfeited as a result.
« There were two teams who were fighting extremely hard, » Klopp told Sky Sports. « And the referee was not. They did not have the level of the game. That’s how it is, I am sorry for that. I know it’s a big story in that but everybody saw that it was not even a foul (on Gravenberch), they did not even whistle a foul!
« And then the fourth officials explains to me ‘Yeah because of that we cannot give a card because it wasn’t…’ Oh, good idea! So these boys, I am not sure if we ask too much too quick, whatever for them but this situation was obvious for me, we saw it, everything you need for a card.
« They did an X-ray (on Gravenberch), it is not broken but the ligaments got something. I actually feel really bad, but everything else is really good. »
Gravenberch was spotted on crutches during the on-pitch celebrations in another blow for Liverpool on the injury front, with Klopp concerned about his already-stretched squad for their midweek FA Cup tie against Southampton.
« We don’t have a team right now for Wednesday, » he added. « 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. »
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