Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Toppmoeller said that Sunday's game "could have been 4-2 for Liverpool", adding that the Reds "are not in top form, only in the sense of their results.

The Blues have collected red cards in each of their last four matches and in five of their last six. Maresca was himself dismissed at the end of the 2-1 win against Liverpool earlier this month.

Mboko was born in the United States to parents fleeing political turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo, before settling in Toronto.

Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean Dyche as their new head coach on a deal until 2027, the Premier League club announced.