Darren Bent has said on talkSPORT that it is “ridiculous” that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp decided to bring on Fabio Carvalho for the final few seconds against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has said that the only reason why Carvalho came so late on for Liverpool against Madrid could be because of an injury to Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of defending European champions Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday evening.
French striker Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game in the 78th minute.
Madrid won the tie 6-2 on aggregate.
Carvalho started the match for Liverpool on the bench.
The 20-year-old, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, came on as a substitute in the 92nd minute for Gakpo.
There were just seconds left on the clock.
Carvalho has made four starts and eight substitute appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool so far this season.
The 20-year-old has scored two goals in those games.
The Portuguese youngster has scored one goal in two Carabao Cup appearances, has played once in the FA Cup, and has made one start and three substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Liverpool this campaign.
Darren Bent on Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho
Bent said about Carvalho: “Appearance fee? Nine seconds is ridiculous. Unless Cody Gakpo had cramp and could not continue, that’s why he came on for nine seconds.”
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