- Teen received a first yellow card for a challenge on Luis Díaz, but more cards escaped him.
- Stuart Attwell opted not to penalize his sliding tackle on Kostas Tsimikas
- Hear It's all starting! Jack Grealish will not be allowed to roam at Man City… will be sold this summer if things don't change
Ange Postecoglou has explained why he believes Liverpool's calls for Lucas Bergvall to be sent off are unfounded following his team's 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Swedish star received a yellow card in the first half for a sliding challenge on Luis Diaz, although replays appeared to suggest the Liverpool star had gone down with minimal contact.
But late in the second half, Bergvall appeared to be at fault again when he bowled to Kostas Tsimikas.
Referee Stuart Attwell's yellow card stayed in his pocket and the hosts were able to reap the rewards of their decision when, moments later, Bergvall found the back of the net to claim the winning goal.
One goal was all that was needed to give Tottenham the vital lead heading into the second leg at Anfield in February.
Virgil van Dijk was among the Liverpool players who surrounded Attwell after the final whistle to discuss his decision, but in his comments at full-time, Postecoglou was unfazed and rejected the idea that his team had been lucky not to lose the 18 year old player. old.
Ange Postecoglou was optimistic, saying Liverpool's complaints about Lucas Bergvall were unfounded
The Swedish teenager challenged Kostas Tsimikas late in the second half in north London.
Bergvall scored to give Tottenham the lead heading into the second leg at Anfield.
“He wasn't (lucky to be on the field),” Postecoglou said. People misinterpreted my comments the other day.
“The rule is, and we have been told for quite some time, that if an advantage is played, as long as it is not for a cynical tackle, then the yellow card (is not given).
“We've been crying out for it for the last two months. It's happened to us constantly, look at our games.
“We have asked the referees and they have told us that if you play with an advantage and it is not a cynical tackle, then the yellow card is not played. For me that was quite clear.
“Those are the rules and we have followed them for the last six weeks.”
However, online commentators were quick to point out that Bergvall's tackle could be termed reckless, so in similar circumstances a yellow card could have been given.
Postecoglou was also wrong to say that Attwell took the advantage, as the referee said that no foul was committed and that the advantage did not apply to a second yellow card, except in cases of an immediate opportunity.
Arne Slot is totally opposed to Postecoglou's prospects and describes the situation as “far from ideal”
Unlike his counterpart, Arne Slot did not agree. The Liverpool manager made reference to how Postecoglou had been outraged days earlier by decisions that seemed to go against him when facing Newcastle.
“I don't think there's any debate about it,” Slot said. “I think I saw Ange sitting here on Sunday and the Spurs were not happy with some decisions. One was going against them, tonight maybe one was going for them.
'The decisions have been made, they cannot be changed. When he didn't show the second yellow card, no one thought it would have such a big impact 30 seconds later.
“I'm 99.9 percent sure I wasn't the only one who didn't feel good when he came in. For him (the referee) it wasn't ideal either.”