Micah Richards questions Liverpool using neuroscience before cup final

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Micah Richards has told The Monday Night Club that he does not understand Liverpool using neuroscience ahead of their penalty shootout win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

The Reds won the first domestic silverware of the season at Wembley. The two Premier League sides played out one of the best games of football to end 0-0.

They both had the ball in the net on various occasions. However, Joel Matip saw his effort ruled out for an offside. Meanwhile, Chelsea had three goals chalked off for the same offence.

Ultimately, it was Liverpool who got their hands on the trophy as the quality during the first 120 minutes seeped into the penalty shootout.

The Reds put all 11 of theirs past Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had been brought on specifically for the shootout. Unfortunately, his day then got a lot worse when the Spaniard sent his attempt flying into the stand to decide the game.

Jurgen Klopp confirmed after the game that Liverpool had utilised the help of a neuroscience company in the weeks leading up to the final. Each player, in fact, had received some help on dealing with the penalty situation.

Obviously, it appeared to pay off superbly. But Richards has claimed that he is not buying into that, seemingly having a problem with the idea that anyone can receive help to prepare for the situation.

“I was playing for the 21’s against Sweden and I was ninth [to take a penalty] and I asked to go 10th because I was that nervous about taking one,” he told The Monday Night Club. “Even the keepers wanted to go before me, it was crazy!”

“The neuroscience would have picked that up,” Mark Chapman then retorted. 

“No, but it wouldn’t have to. I used to put it right in the stantion every day in training. In pre-season, it’s not even a real game, and Pellegrini gives me the nod [to take a penalty]. He gives me the nod and I said ‘what you giving me the nod for?’. He said ‘you’ve been doing it every day in training’.And I took one of the worst penalties in history.

“It’s completely different, so I don’t agree with this neuroscience. I don’t agree with it.”

Quality of Liverpool penalties suggest neuroscience work certainly had some impact

Of course, we are talking about one of the greatest teams the world has ever seen in this Liverpool squad. So obviously, they had the potential to put 11 consecutive penalties away.

They are also no strangers to finals by this stage. So that may have helped them cope with the pressure.

But some of the penalties were absolutely outrageous. James Milner set the tone with his finding the inside netting, while Fabinho produced a delicious Panenka.

Virgil van Dijk even beat Kepa when the Spaniard decided to put himself on the side of the goal the defender went for.

Caoimhin Kelleher was, understandably, the last taker. And he produced an attempt that would not have looked out of place going out first.

Perhaps there is reason to be sceptical about how much credit the neuroscience company should get. But if they have given some of those Liverpool players that additional belief to be a little more ambitious with their attempts, they have made a difference.