Virgil van Dijk lamented that Lucas Bergvall was not dismissed before the Tottenham lad's late winner, claiming there was a “big moment” against Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
Liverpool were left fuming when Bergvall scored with just four minutes to go on Wednesday, just moments after a late challenge on Kostas Tsimikas had already seen the midfielder shown a yellow card.
Arne Slot's side were forced to play with ten men as Tsimikas received treatment before Bergvall latched onto Dominic Solanke's cutback pass and fired into the bottom corner for his first Spurs goal.
This leaves Ange Postecoglou's side with a narrow 1-0 lead going to Anfield in the second leg after Van Dijk was disappointed with Bergvall's decision.
“I think it was quite clear that it was going to be a second yellow card,” the Liverpool captain told Sky Sports. “Of course I think it was pretty obvious [what I said to the referee].
“It was no coincidence that he scored the winner a minute later, but it is what it is. [The referee] I think he made a mistake and I told him so.
“I think it was very clear and everyone on the sidelines knew it had to be yellow.
“There is a linesman there, a fourth official. There is a VAR and a referee there, and he doesn't get a second yellow.
“I'm not saying that's the reason we lost, but it was a big moment in the game.”
Wednesday's defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium marked only Liverpool's second defeat in their last 20 games in the competition. In the fourth round of 2022/2023, they also lost 3-2 to Manchester City.
Slot will still be hopeful of a response at Anfield next month, with defending champions Liverpool having made progress after seven of the last nine EFL Cup semi-finals.
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