VIRGIL VAN DIJK was furious. Lucas Bergvall should have been sent off just before the Swedish teenager hit Tottenham's winner.
It came after teammate Rodrigo Bentancur was carried off on a stretcher with a neck brace and headband after a heavy fall in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Bergvall scored the only goal in the 86th minute, just before escaping a second yellow card despite sending off Kostas Tsimikas – with referee Stuart Attwell playing advantage and deciding not to go back to book the 18-year-old.
Tsimikas left the field and waited for his return when Bergvall put Spurs ahead.
Liverpool captain Van Dijk spotted arguing with whistler Attwell at full-time and insisted: “It's yellow!”
The 33-year-old Dutchman later fumed: “It was quite clear that there would be a second yellow card, it was quite clear.
“A minute later he scores the winner.
“The referee made a mistake and I told him so. It was very clear and everyone on the sidelines knew it was yellow.
'He should have been gone. There is a linesman, fourth official, VAR and referee and he does not get a second yellow.
“I'm not saying that's why we lost, but it was a big moment.”
Reds boss Arne Slot and his coaching staff were left furious after Bergvall's goal on the touchline.
Slot's assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff received a yellow card because of his complaints.
The match was the first in the history of English men's football to see VAR decisions announced to the fans in the stadium.
Attwell could be heard over the loudspeaker explaining that Dominic Solanke's goal had been ruled offside in the 78th minute.
Slot, whose team only managed to score in the second match this season, added: “It would be more interesting if he explained why he did not give a second yellow card than why he disallowed the goal.
“But I know that's not the rule.”
Spurs chief Ange Postecoglou added: “I understand why Arne would be very disappointed but apparently these are the rules.
“He wasn't lucky to be on the field. If the advantage is played and it is not a cynical tackle, then it is not a yellow card.
“We've been crying out for it for the last two months and that's what we've been told.”
Bergvall's strike came 80 minutes after teammate Bentancur fell to the ground in worrying scenes as he went unchallenged in a challenge.
He appeared to be unconscious, with Pedro Porro appearing to put his finger in his stricken friend's mouth to ensure he had not swallowed his tongue.
After six minutes of treatment, Bentancur was strapped into a neck brace and head brace.
He was given oxygen as he left the field but was later conscious, talking and sent to hospital for further monitoring.
Postecoglou added: “It was some kind of head wound, but he was conscious when he came off the field.
'He was taken to hospital for observation. Hopefully he will be fine.”
Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky hugged his sister after keeping a clean sheet for his debut following this week's £12.5million move from Slavia Prague a few days ago.
The Czech, 21, said: “I'm a big dreamer, but I never dreamed this.”
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