
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 Attwell 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.
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 [Attwell] 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?
68: Lucas Bergvall was shown a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Liverpool’s Luis Diaz.
84: Bergvall slides in on Kostas Tsimikas.
Ref Stuart Attwell plays on 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.” — Sky Sports.