Liverpool rage as Arne Slot insists Tottenham star should’ve been sent off before winner

Liverpool wanted a yellow card, but the one they got wasn’t what they were looking for.

The Reds lost the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final 1-0 away against Tottenham Hotspur, which was just their second defeat under new head coach Arne Slot.

However, the goal that won it, a terrific strike from Lucas Bergvall in the 86th minute left Slot’s bench fuming.

The Swedish 18-year-old had a busy match and in the 68th minute was booked for a foul on Luis Diaz.

Just 18 minutes later he was back at it as he caught Kostas Tsimikas, leaving the Greek left-back rolling on the floor in pain right in front of both managers.

Referee Stuart Attwell wasn’t interested in a second yellow and a sending off, and that decision proved crucial moments later.

Dominic Solanke, who’d just had a goal ruled out for offside, was back in the box, and set up the crucial Bergvall winner.

Slot and his team were fuming, and so angry was assistant Sipke Hulshoff that he received the yellow card he thought Bergvall deserved.

The Dutch coaches continued to plead their case to no avail, and at full-time they were joined by another countryman.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was just as annoyed as he confronted the officials after full time, but he’ll have to wait until the second leg at Anfield on February 6 to redress the balance.