Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Jamie Carragher: ‘I was the idiot before the game’ doubting Jurgen Klopp

Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports pundit at Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Jamie Carragher says he should never have doubted Jurgen Klopp’s decision making ahead of the Carabao Cup final and labelled himself an “idiot” for doing so.

The former Liverpool defender had questioned the inclusion of back-up Caoimhin Kelleher after Klopp declared the 23-year-old would start at Wembley. Carragher said in his column for The Telegraph: “I will never understand the theory behind selecting a second-choice goalkeeper in a major final.

It is more the principle of leaving a world-class keeper on the bench I struggle with, especially in a final where small details make all the difference.

Chelsea were tipped to start with their second choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of Edouard Mendy. But Thomas Tuchel went with Mendy only to sub him late in extra-time to allow Kepa to take charge of the penalty shoot-out.

That however back fired with Kepa missing his penalty in sudden death. The Spaniard pumped his kick high over the bar, meaning Kelleher’s spot-kick proved to be the winner in the 11-10 shootout win.

Despite not saving a penalty in the shootout Kelleher’s “hit and hope” strike was enough to make him the unsuspecting hero.

The game had ended 0-0 after 120 pulsating minutes, with Carragher wishing he had never doubted the German coach.

Carragher told Sky Sports: “Anyone could’ve won that. It was a really tight game. In the shootout, some of the penalties were absolutely out of this world and it fell to the goalkeeper.

“I was the idiot before the game who questioned Jurgen Klopp slightly in terms of playing Kelleher. He’s now the hero.

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“When you’re getting late on in the game, who’s going to be the hero? That man is the hero.

“To take the last penalty to then win the cup. I mean, as I said, Chelsea played really well, Liverpool played really well. Two brilliant teams and someone’s unfortunately got to lose.”


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Klopp: The human being won

Kelleher has only made two Premier League starts this season. But he had played in three of the five previous EFL Cup games. And Klopp was insistent that the Cork-born stopper would be given his chance at Wembley.

Klopp said: “It is so nice that it [his inclusion] paid off. He deserves it.

“I am two things, a football manager and a human being and the human being won this time.

“He is a young boy, we ask him to do a lot. He starts playing in the competition and then we get to the final and I tell him he cannot play…” Klopp added.

“In professional football, there should be space for sentiment. At the training centre, we have a wall that all goalkeepers are on who won something and Caoimhin can go on it. That’s how it should be – absolutely great.”

READ MORE: Van Dijk describes Liverpool development after admitting one thing he didn’t understand in cup win