Jamie Redknapp singles out Chelsea player for blame after Liverpool's Carabao Cup final win

Jamie Redknapp has held one specific Chelsea star responsible for their heart wrenching last-gasp defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

Liverpool entered the game with key players such as Alisson Becker, Mo Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all sidelined due to injuries.

The injury situation worsened for Jurgen Klopp in the first half as Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off following a horrific challenge from Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea failed to capitalise on Liverpool's lack of experience despite having countless chances to win the match, and Pochettino's men were finally punished in the 118th minute as Virgil Van Dijk headed home.

Following the match in the Sky Sports Studio, Redknapp chose to attribute the blame for the defeat to Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.

"Van Dijk gets away from Disasi and he is a big man and he just didn’t deal with him well enough. It wasn’t incredible movement from Virgil but he just wanted it more," Redknapp told the studio.

Disasi was part of Chelsea's heavy summer spending, joining for around £40m from Monaco.

Disasi vs Liverpool- Getty

"It was a good flat delivery from Tsimikas and he just wanted it. That’s sometimes what can happen at set-pieces," The former Liverpool man continued.

"With Chelsea, you can see that little bit of fear perhaps because they’ve won so many and then you just start to panic a little bit and they couldn’t get close enough to Virgil. He just flicks it in and it’s a great header."

Redknapp also gave significant praise to the departing Liverpool manager, who picked up the first of the four available trophies despite missing his key players.

"Some of these lads have got to go to school in the morning! But it’s an incredible achievement and they are all buying into it," said Redknapp.

"Whatever happens, happens. It doesn’t change my opinion on Jurgen Klopp.

"If they go and win four trophies or just this one, it’s still an incredible thing he’s done for this club, this community and fans around the world."

Topics: Chelsea, Liverpool, Carabao Cup, Jamie Redknapp, Jurgen Klopp, Virgil Van Dijk

Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins is a Social Editor and Journalist for SPORTBible. Specialises in Football and F1 but has experience covering a variety of sports such as MMA, Boxing and Cricket. Suffers weekly as an Evertonian.

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