Both coaches of a historic match ridiculed what made it so after Tottenham defeated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup: criticizing the VAR.
Tottenham will take a 1-0 lead at Anfield for the second leg of their semi-final in a month's time after Lucas Bergvall's controversial goal was enough to earn the hosts victory on Wednesday.
Bergvall scored just minutes from time after good work from Dominic Solanke, but the Liverpool team claimed he should not have been on the pitch after avoiding a second yellow card for fouling Kostas Tsimikas as Liverpool broke moments before.
But the goal stood, and it wasn't the first time Spurs found the back of the net in the game, although the first goal was disallowed for offside.
It also marked the first time a referee announced a VAR decision to fans on the pitch, with Stuart Attwell taking the microphone to detail how Solanke had strayed into an offside position.
The announcement was met with boos from the fans inside the stadium, and the two coaches also did not take it well, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot being the first to give his opinion.
Arne Slot and Ange Postecoglou ridiculed the VAR decisions announced in the stadiums
Slot said “you don't need to explain anything” after the first announcement about his team's defeat against Tottenham
Postecoglou, for his part, said the linesman should have “raised the flag and moved on.”
“If it's offside, you don't need to explain anything,” Slot said. 'Everyone saw it on the screen.
“For everyone it would be more interesting why he didn't explain the second yellow card than why he disallowed the goal.”
Postecoglou, for his part, added via Sky Sports: “If people think about tonight's announcement then I'm sorry.” Seriously, move on dude, it used to be just raise the flag and move on. It doesn't matter.
He later added: “It amazes me how people in this country are letting things change so easily and so quickly,” he said.
'I thought more people would protect the sanctity of the game. You believe you are the custodians of the game. You sing It's Coming Home, but it takes an Australian from the other side of the world to talk. Today it benefited us. Leave the game alone for a moment.
As part of a new in-stadium test of VAR announcements for both Carabao Cup semi-finals, Attwell later revealed to the crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the reason why the goal was disallowed.
The referee blew his whistle and added: “After a review, Dominic Solanke was in an offside position,” as his words echoed through the pitch inside the field.
There was a predictable level of frustration from the home fans as boos were heard after the explanation.
The first penalty came when Dominic Solanke scored from an offside position (overturned by VAR).
Referee Stuart Attwell took the microphone to explain why he had been ruled out.
Last month it was announced that the test would be contested in both legs of the semi-finals, with Arsenal taking on Newcastle during the first leg of the other final four clash on Tuesday night.
The Magpies won the match 2-0 to surprise the Gunners at the Emirates, but no decisions were referred to VAR, meaning referee John Brooks did not have to announce any of his decisions inside the stadium.
Attwell will be remembered for achieving a first in English football, with the EFL revealing before ties that referees would have to announce the final VAR decision after visiting the pitchside monitor or upon concluding factual matters as part of the judgment.