Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has criticized the referee’s decision which saw Tottenham’s match-winner Lucas 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 were beaten by Spurs to take a lead in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. The 18-year-old was initially booked by referee Stuart Attwell for a late challenge on Luis Diaz in the 68th minute.
Moments before his goal, Bergvall pounced on Tsimikas leading to a stoppage in play where the Liverpool left-back was taken off, meaning the away side were down to 10 men temporarily. As Tsimikas looked on, Spurs hit back with Bergvall finishing the move to give them a narrow lead to take into the return leg at Anfield on Thursday 6 February.
Speaking after the game, Van Dijk – who confronted the officials at full-time – was adamant that Bergvall should have been booked for a second time.
“I think it was pretty clear it was going to be a second yellow,” Van Dijk said Sky Sports.
“Obviously I think it was very clear (from what I said to the referee). It was no coincidence that a minute later he scored the winning goal.
“He (Attwell) made a mistake in my opinion and I told him so. I think it was pretty obvious and everyone on the wing knew it had to be a yellow.
“There’s a sergeant there, a fourth referee. There’s VAR and a referee, and he doesn’t get a second yellow. I’m not saying that’s why we lost today, but it was a big moment in the game.”
Liverpool coach Arne Slot shared his captain’s disappointment over the winning goal.
“The decision he (Attwell) made had a lot to do with the outcome tonight,” Slott said Sky Sports. “I think
everyone will tell you that.
“To concede (that goal) and even the player who scored it, who probably should have had his second yellow card, not just for us, is not ideal. I don’t know, but I think maybe the referee was like that too. Is he really 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 he stops a counter-attack with a reckless challenge, he could still give a yellow, but he did. I don’t see how
a reckless challenge”.
Controversial Spurs goal: Why did Liverpool want Bergvall off?
Lucas Bergvall scored a controversial winner as he avoided sending off in Tottenham’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool.
68: Lucas Bergvall was booked for a sliding challenge on Liverpool’s Luis Diaz.
84: Bergvall slides over Kostas Tsimikas. Ref Stuart Attwell plays in which Darvin Nunez shoots on target. The game was then stopped for Tsimikas to receive treatment, but there was no penalty for Bergvall, despite protests from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
86: Two minutes and five seconds after Bergvall’s shot, he makes the breakthrough for Spurs as Tsimikas waits on the field to return to the field after treatment. A Liverpool manager is punished by referee Attwell for complaining about the situation. Spurs’ goal came straight from an uncontested dropball.
‘It doesn’t make sense’: What the experts 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. It gives him an opportunity and a decision to make.
“The second one should have been a yellow card. If you get one right and one wrong, you can’t even lift it.”
Izzy Christiansen on Sky Sports Football:
“The second is worse than the first. It makes no sense.”
Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports Football:
“It has a monumental effect on the rest of the game. He has to go 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 worthwhile.”
Ange calls for protests as football is changing: ‘Did that announcement make you angry?’
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Dominic Solanke’s goal was disallowed 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’s stadium and television viewers, speaking after a VAR review that lasted around two minutes.
But Postecoglou was unimpressed – and called on the football community to resist technology-driven changes to the game.
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Ange Postecoglou made his feelings clear at the Carabao VAR trial after the referee announced the decision that Solanke’s goal was disallowed to the crowd.
“I’m really surprised how people in this country are so easily allowing the game to change so quickly,” he said. “More has changed since the advent of VAR than in the previous 50 years. We have never argued so many things.
“Did everyone really like today’s announcement? Did it give you a real buzz?
“My understanding is that this is what people want. I understand that VAR will be there, the technology will be there. But my wife with the children limits the time in front of the screen. Why do we want to change the game so much?
“I know I’ll be the old man in the stands yelling at VAR every time.
“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 your guardians of the game, you have a song that says ‘Coming Home’ but it’s an Aussie on the side the rest of the world most conservative about changes.”
VAR Announcement – Slot: We don’t need to explain the offside positions
“With the VAR decision he had to tell everyone what his decision was, unfortunately he didn’t have to do that with the decision (Bergvall’s second yellow card).
“If it’s offside, I don’t think anyone has to explain anything. It would be more interesting if he explained why he didn’t give the second yellow card!”
First VAR announcement – how we reported it
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
“For the first time, we hear a VAR announcement over the public address system, delivered by referee Stuart Attwell.
“But the news of an offside call has been drowned out by the rumblings of disgruntled Tottenham fans – and cheers from Liverpool fans!
“A lesson learned: the referee blowing his whistle loudly into a live microphone that is amplified around the stadium is not a pleasant sound for those listening!”
