Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has criticized the referee's decision that saw Tottenham's winner Lukas Bergvall avoid being sent off for a challenge on Kostas Tsimikas in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Bergvall scored the only goal as Liverpool lost to Tottenham to gain the advantage heading into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. The 18-year-old was booked by referee Stuart Attwell for a late challenge on Luis Diaz in the 68th minute.
Moments before his goal, Bergvall's late lunge on Tsimikas brought play to a standstill as Liverpool's left-back was taken off the pitch, meaning the visitors were down to 10 men temporarily. As Tsimikas watched from the sidelines, Tottenham responded with Bergvall finishing off the move to give them a slim lead going into the second leg at Anfield on Thursday 6 February.
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
Highlights of Tottenham's victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final
Speaking after the match, Van Dijk – who faced the officials throughout – insisted Bergvall should have been booked for a second time.
“I think it was quite clear that he would get a second yellow card,” Van Dijk said. Sky Sports.
“Obviously I think it was very clear (from what I said to the referee). It was no coincidence that he scored the winner a minute later.
“He (Attwell) made a mistake in my opinion and I told him so. It was quite clear I think and everyone on the sideline knew he should have been given a yellow card.
“There's an assistant referee and a fourth official. There's a VAR there and a referee, and he didn't get the second yellow card. I'm not saying that's the reason we lost today, but it was a big moment in the match.” game.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slott shared his team captain's frustration with the winning goal.
“The decision he (Atwell) made had a huge impact on the outcome tonight,” Slott said. Sky Sports. “I guess
Everyone will tell you this.
He added: “Receiving this goal, and even the player who scored it, who probably should have received a second yellow card, is not just ideal for us. I don’t know but I think maybe the referee was saying ‘this is it’. Is this really happening?
Now the goal?
“The fourth official told me why he thought it wasn't a second yellow card, and of course he probably heard that from the referee. If you stop a counter-attack with a reckless challenge, he can still give a yellow card, but he didn't do that.” I don't see that
“Reckless challenge.”
Controversial Tottenham goal: Why did Liverpool want to fire Bergvall?
Lukas Bergvall scored a controversial winner after avoiding a red card in Tottenham's 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Liverpool.
68: Lukas Bergvall received a yellow card after a violent tackle on Liverpool's Luis Diaz.
84: Bergvall slides over Kostas Tsimikas. Referee Stuart Attwell plays in, leading to Darwin Nunez's shot on target. Play is then stopped so Tsimikas can receive treatment, but there is no punishment for Bergvall, despite protests from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
86: Two minutes and five seconds after Bergvall intervened, he stood up He creates a breakthrough for Tottenham, while Tsimikas waits on the bench to return to the field after receiving treatment. Liverpool coach receives a warning from referee Atwell due to a complaint about the situation. Tottenham's goal came directly from an uncontested drop ball.
'Senseless': What critics said…
Michael Dawson on Sky Sports Football:
“If Stuart Attwell gets the first goal right it puts himself in a position. I don't think the first goal was a yellow card. It gives him a chance and makes a decision.”
“The second one you should have gotten a yellow card. If you get one right and one wrong you can't equalize it.”
Izzy Christiansen on Sky Sports Football:
“The second one is worse than the first. It doesn't make sense.”
Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports Football:
“He had a massive impact on the rest of the game. He has to come off for treatment and that leaves Liverpool with ten men. So not only do you still have Bergvall on the pitch but Liverpool have to play with ten men.
“But Tottenham are definitely counting on it.”
Ange calls for protests over how football has changed: “Did this ad cause a big uproar?”
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
Dominic Solanke's goal was disallowed after a close check by VAR, with referee Stuart Attwell announcing the decision to the crowd
Atwell had previously used the public address system in a historic moment for English football, announcing that Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke's 76th-minute goal had been ruled out for offside.
Attwell communicated the decision via a wireless microphone to spectators inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and to television viewers, speaking after a VAR review that lasted around two minutes.
But Postecoglou was not impressed, and called on the football community to resist technological change in the game.
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
Ange Postecoglou made his feelings clear during the Carabao VAR trial, after the referee announced the decision to disallow Solanke's goal to the crowd.
“I'm really amazed how people in this country allow the game to change so easily, so quickly,” he said. “It's changed more since VAR than it has in the last 50 years. We never used to discuss so many things.
“Did everyone really like today's ad? Did it give you a buzz?”
“My understanding is that this is what people want. I know VAR is going to be there, the technology is going to be there. But my wife with my kids limits screen time. Why do we want to change the game so much?
“I know I'll be the old man in the stands booing every time when VAR is used.
“There's a lot of confusion at the moment. The game is changing based on technology and why isn't anyone talking about it? You guys think the game custodians have a song that says 'It's Coming Home' but it's an Australian from the other side of the world who is more conservative about the changes.”
VAR Announcement – The Slot: We don't need to explain offsides
He added: “With the VAR decision he had to tell everyone his decision, and unfortunately he did not have to do that with the decision (Bergvall’s second yellow card).
“If it was offside, I don't think anyone has to explain anything. It would have been more interesting if he had explained why the second yellow card was not given!”
First VAR announcement – how we reported on it
Sky Sports' Peter Smith at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
“For the first time, we hear a VAR announcement being transmitted over the public address system, delivered by referee Stuart Attwell.
“But the offside news was drowned out by boos from disgruntled Tottenham fans – and cheers from Liverpool fans!
“Lesson learned moving forward: A referee blowing his whistle loudly into the live microphone being amplified around the pitch is not a pleasant sound for those listening!!”
