LIVERPOOL are unlikely to be thrown out of the Carabao Cup for playing Pedro Chirivella in their victory against MK Dons – but it seems that the player may not have had the correct registration papers to feature.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds are being investigated by the EFL.
The player had been on loan at Spanish side Extremadura but one theory is that the right forms to allow him to play in the competition had not been completed.
Alternatively, the player did not have the correct ITC (International Transfer Certificate) for international clearance, which would have been needed to be issued by the Spanish Football Association.
He played the final 27 minutes of the tie after coming on as a sub.
Here, Sun Sport looks at who the youngster is and why Liverpool could be sanctioned.
WHO IS HE?
Pedro Chirivella is a 22-year-old midfielder from Valencia on the east coast of Spain.
He arrived at Anfield in July of 2015 and played three FA Cup matches, a Europa League tie and a Premier League match as a 19-year-old in the 2015/16 season, starting just two of those games.
Chirivella has been on loan at Go Ahead Eagles and Willem II, both in Holland, in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.
He then went on loan at Extremadura from January to July of 2019.
The player was signed on for Liverpool Under-21s for this season.
WAS HE INELIGIBLE?
It appears the player may not have been registered for the Carabao Cup, which could be a Kop administrative error.
Although an investigation will look into whether Liverpool needed international clearance after his spell at Extremadura last season.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW?
If an EFL enquiry finds that the player was ineligible, the Reds could be thrown out of the Carabao Cup and MK Dons, who lost 2-0, will instead take their place in the fourth round and face a home tie against Arsenal.
The player is thought to be still eligible to feature in Liverpool U-21s Premier League 2 matches.
Chirivella played in the Football League Trophy against Oldham in August.
It is not yet known at this stage if the Reds will be thrown out of this EFL competition as well.
WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
Sunderland fielded Ji Dong-won without international clearance in their Carabao Cup tie ironically against MK Dons in 2013.
The South Korean had previously been on loan at German side Augsburg.
But they received just a fine and stayed in the competition, reaching the final that season.
Considering this latest case concerns an EU resident, there surely cannot be a case to answer in terms of international clearance.
The Reds should fight this as a case could possibly be ruled out under restriction of trade.
But if Liverpool were deemed to have not registered the player for the Carabao Cup, they could bring a harsher penalty.
A Reds spokesman said after Wednesday's win: “The club are aware of a potential administrative issue pertaining to one of our players.
“We are working with the relevant authorities in order to establish the facts of the matter and will be making no further comment until this process is complete.”
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