Liverpool’s injury crisis continues as Ryan Gravenberch is stretchered off in Carabao Cup final clash with Chelsea… with Jurgen Klopp now missing ELEVEN senior stars

• Gravenberch was stretchered off inside the first half of the clash at Wembley
• His side already have a number of midfield injuries including Dominik Szoboszlai 
• The Carabao Cup final is like a World Cup final for Mauricio Pochettino, if Chelsea beat Liverpool it’ll be enormous for him – It’s All Kicking Off  

Ryan Gravenberch has added to Jurgen Klopp’s already massive injury problems after the Dutch midfielder was stretchered off against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

The German manager was already without 10 senior stars ahead of kick-off, including Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai, but Gravenberch now takes that number to 11. 

Szoboszlai in particular gave Klopp plenty to think about ahead of the game in terms of who would fill in for the midfield battle, with Gravenberch coming in alongside Alexis Mac Allister. 

Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo however brought Gravenberch’s Sunday to a premature close, charging in and planting his studs down on the Dutch youngster’s ankle. 

As well as the initial contact, the Chelsea midfielder’s momentum saw the Liverpool player’s ankle slide on the ground with the Blues star’s full weight pressing down on the joint.

Caicedo did not get the ball, nor did he pick up a yellow or red card for his actions, despite Gravenberch requiring medical assistance to leave the field.  

Following the injury, though, Joe Gomez was brought on, with Conor Bradley coming into midfield as Klopp scrambled to cover the holes in the middle of the pitch before half-time. 

The German manager was visibly apoplectic with rage over on the touchline as his player was scythed down by the Ecuador international.

The challenge also drew reactions from those on the bench, Salah among the players to show their frustration at the decision to not even card the Chelsea player. 

‘It’s extremely clumsy,’ said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp at the break.

‘It looks disgusting when you look at it like that. As we put a stop on it we can see that Caicedo’s not even watching. It’s definitely a yellow card. 

‘I can see why Jurgen Klopp was so upset and disappointed with it, but i think in that situation, a yellow would suffice.’ 

It came midway through a first half that saw Chelsea arguably come the closer of the two to earning an opener.  

Raheem Sterling saw his own effort come within a matter of millimetres of counting, only for VAR to rule it out. 

Caoimhin Kelleher also produced a stunning stop to deny Cole Palmer another goal for Chelsea, the sides going in at the break still at 0-0. 

However on the hour mark Virgil van Dijk appeared to have thundered the Reds into the lead with a strong header from inside the box after an Andy Robertson cross in. 

But once more VAR was called upon, and the goal was scrubbed off after Wataru Endo seemed to block off Levi Colwill in an offside position.