Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has slammed the referee decision that saw Tottenham match-winner Lucas Bergvall avoid a sending-off for a challenge on Kostas Tsimikas in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Bergvall scored the only goal as Liverpool were beaten by Spurs to gain an advantage going into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. The 18-year-old was originally booked by referee Stuart Atwell for a late challenge on Luis Diaz in the 68th minute.
Moments before his goal, Bergvall lunged in late on Tsimikas leading to a stoppage in play where the Liverpool left-back was removed from the pitch, meaning the away side were down to 10 players temporarily. While Tsimikas watched on from the sidelines, Spurs countered with Bergvall finishing off the move to give them a narrow lead to take into the return leg at Anfield on Thursday February 6.
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Highlights from Tottenham’s first-leg win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final
Speaking after the game, Van Dijk – who confronted the officials at full-time – was adamant that Bergvall should have been booked a second time.
“I think it was quite obvious that it was going to be a second yellow,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.
“Obviously I think it was pretty clear [from what I said to the referee]. It was no coincidence that a minute later he scores the winner.
“He [Atwell] made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. It was quite obvious I think and everyone on the sidelines knew it was supposed to be a yellow.
“There is a linesman there, a fourth official. There is VAR there and a referee, and he doesn’t get a second yellow. I’m not saying this is the reason we lost today, but it was a big moment in the game.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot shared in his captain’s frustration at the winning goal.
“The decision he (Attwell) made had a lot of impact on the result tonight,” Slot told Sky Sports. “I think
everyone would tell you this.
“Conceding (that goal), and even the player scoring it, that maybe should have had his second yellow card, is, not only for us, not ideal. I don’t know but I think maybe even the referee was like ‘is this really happening? Is he scoring
now the goal?’
“The fourth official told me why he thought it wasn’t a second yellow, and of course he heard that probably from the referee. If you stop a counter-attack with a reckless challenge, he could still give a yellow, but he didn’t see it as
a reckless challenge.”
Spurs’ controversial goal: Why did Liverpool want Bergvall sent off?
Lucas Bergvall scored a controversial winner after avoiding a sending-off in Totenham’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool
68: Lucas Bergvall was shown a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Liverpool’s Luis Diaz.
84: Bergvall slides in on Kostas Tsimikas. Referee Stuart Attwell plays advantage which leads to Darwin Nunez shooting 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’s tackle, he makes the breakthrough for Spurs, while Tsimikas is waiting on the sidelines to return to the field after receiving treatment. A Liverpool coach is booked by referee Attwell for complaining about the situation. Spurs’ goal came directly from an uncontested dropball.
‘It doesn’t make sense’: What the pundits said…
Michael Dawson on Sky Sports Football:
“If Stuart Attwell gets the first one right he puts himself in a position. I don’t think the first one is a yellow card. He gives him an opportunity and a decision to make.
“The second should have been a yellow card. If you get one right and one wrong you can’t even it up.”
Izzy Christiansen on Sky Sports Football:
“The second one is worse than the first one. It doesn’t make sense.”
Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports Football:
“It has a monumental effect on the rest of the game. He has to come off for treatment and that leaves Liverpool with 10 men. So not only do you still have Bergvall on the pitch but Liverpool have to play with 10 men.
“But Spurs certainly make it count.”
Ange calls for protests at how football is changing: ‘Did that announcement give you a buzz?’
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Dominic Solanke’s goal is ruled out after closer inspection by VAR, with referee Stuart Attwell announcing the decision to the crowd
Attwell had earlier used the public address system in a historic moment for English football, announcing that a goal by Spurs striker Dominic Solanke in the 76th minute had been ruled out for offside.
Attwell communicated the decision via a wireless microphone to spectators inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and to TV viewers, speaking after a VAR review lasting around two minutes.
But Postecoglou was unimpressed – and called on the football community to resist technology-driven change in the game.
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Ange Postecoglou made his feelings clear on the Carabao VAR trial, after the referee announced the decision Solanke’s goal was ruled out to the crowd
“I’m really surprised how people in this country are so easily letting the game change so much so quickly,” he said. “It’s changed more since VAR came in than in the previous 50 years. We never used to debate so many things.
“Did everyone really love the announcement today? Did it give you a real buzz?
“My understanding is this is what the people want. I understand VAR is going to be there, tech is going to be there. But my wife with the 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 shouting boo every time at VAR.
“There’s a lot of confusion at the moment. The game is changing on the basis of technology and why isn’t anyone speaking up about it? You guys think your custodians of the game, you have a song that says ‘It’s coming home‘ but it’s an Aussie from the other side of the world the most conservative about changes.
VAR announcement – Slot: We don’t need offsides explained
“With the VAR decision he had to tell everyone what his decision was, unfortunately he didn’t have to do that with [the second-yellow card Bergvall] decision.
“If it’s offside, I don’t think anyone has to explain anything. It would have been more interesting if he explained why he didn’t give the second yellow card!”
The first VAR announcement – how we reported it
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
“For the first time, we hear a VAR announcement conveyed over the public address system, delivered by referee Stuart Attwell.
“But the news of an offside call is drowned out by boos from the disgruntled Tottenham fans – and cheers from the Liverpool fans!
“A lesson going forwards: the ref blowing his whistle loudly into a live microphone that is amplified around the stadium is not a pleasant sound for those listening!!”
