‘Henderson should have got red card’

LEICESTER City manager Brendan Rodgers suggested Jordan Henderson should have seen red as he criticised referee Andy Madley following the penalty shootout loss to Liverpool, writes Jordan Blackwell.

Rodgers said Madley was “poor all night” in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, and pointed to a foul in the first half where Henderson dragged back James Maddison but did not receive a yellow card.

The England midfielder was then booked in the second period.

Ricardo Pereira was also forced off with an injury following a terrible tackle by Tyler Morton, while City fans were also infuriated by Diogo Jota’s elbow on Luke Thomas.

Asked about the tackle on Ricardo, Rodgers said: “It was a poor challenge. I thought the referee was poor all night, I’ve got to say.

“You know me, I never normally comment on the referees, but there were bookings that should have been shown in the first half.

“We had one where Madders was away and if he’s away he makes the pass and we’re through into the dangerous position that we were in throughout the first half.

“It’s Jordan who was clever and took a foul and should have taken a yellow card, and then in the second half he was given a yellow card.

“I thought the referee was poor all evening to be honest.”

Ricardo was not the only player to leave the pitch injured, with Caglar Soyuncu also forced off in the second half, appearing to overstretch his hamstring after blocking a shot.

Given the “challenges” they faced during the game, Rodgers was pleased with his side, even though they gave up a two-goal lead before losing on penalties.

“The second half, with the injuries we picked up, we had to change the structure of the team,” he said. “The first half we were excellent and looked a real threat.

“To concede in the 94th minute with all the challenges that we had, I was so disappointed for the players because they put so much into the game.”