Jamie Carragher has criticised Aaron Ramsdale’s indecisiveness in Granit Xhaka’s red card incident during the first half of Liverpool vs Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
The incident occurred 24 minutes into a contest that was largely dominated by Jurgen Klopp’s side early on.
Just as the Gunners were getting something of a foothold into proceedings, the whole assignment was made harder for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Andrew Robertson’s long pass across the field was controlled by Diogo Jota before he was taken out by a high boot of Xhaka, who impeded the Portuguese just before he was about to run through one-on-one.
After a short VAR consultation, Arsenal’s number 34 had his red card confirmed to the outrage of the north London fanbase on social media, who have demanded the immediate signing of target Arthur Melo.
But was it all Xhaka’s fault?
Well, according to Carragher, one of Arsenal’s players of the season so far in the form of Ramsdale could have done better in being more decisive in his judgement, before the error was made from the midfielder.
Carragher evaluated at half-time of Sky Sports’ coverage of the semi-final: “Xhaka knows he’s there – has two or three looks so he is well aware that he’s there.
“Initially, I thought does he know he’s there?
“Is it a harsh red card?
“Jota just thinks I’ve got to get my chest there and Xhaka does what Xhaka does, makes an absolutely ridiculous challenge when Jota still has so much to do.
“I think Mikel Arteta will actually look at his goalkeeper.
“My left-back’s gone in, my centre-back’s gone in and if the goalkeeper keeps coming – I think he keeps coming, we see this so often now – ‘keepers coming out the box to clear it or maybe head it, then he scares Jota and heads that away.
“But, you asked me, ‘was it a red card?’ There is no doubt it is a red card. Initially, me and Merse [Paul Merson] weren’t sure because did he know he was there, but he’s taken him out. The force has taken him out. An absolutely ridiculous challenge.”