Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has questioned the referee's decision to not hand Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Bergvall a second yellow card before the 18-year-old scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup semifinal between the sides.

Even the backups have struggled for availability as an illness ravaged through the dressing room.Head coach Ange Postecoglou has insisted a team must remain professional and push forward with what they have.

Tottenham Hotspur battled Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal at home, but it was Spurs' mascots that stole the show.

Virgil van Dijk confronted referee Stuart Attwell following Liverpool's defeat to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after match-winner Lucas Bergvall avoided a sending off

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has spoken out about Lucas Bergvall's controversial winner for Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Viewers were in hysterics in the build-up to Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool as a young mascot made the cheekiest of attempts to tap up Virgil van Dijk in the tunnel.

Liverpool Carabao Cup Semi-final 1st Leg Player RatingsThe Carabao Cup semi-finals started with a north London bang last night, as Arsenal lost 0-2 at home to Newcastle in the first

Bergvall, 18, topped off a brilliant performance by curling his effort past Alisson Becker in the 86th minute, but many feel – including Van Dijk – that he should have been off the field of play for two bookable offences before he had the chance to score the winner.

Virgil van Dijk, Arne Slot, Ange Postecoglou React To Liverpool's 1-0 Loss Against Tottenham - Golazo Matchday

Tottenham's injury crisis is not lost on one of their young mascots, who made a proposition to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk before Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semi-final