No amount of technology could have helped Stuart Attwell explain the decision to Arne Slot. And for good reason did the Liverpool boss cut a furious figure on the touchline.

It was bad enough for Slot that his under-performing team slumped to only the second defeat of his tenure in their League Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening.

But that it came in such controversial circumstances would have done little to improve the mood of the Dutchman.

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What is it about this fixture and downright bizarre officiating?

Rather than contentious dismissals or a failure to put a valid goal on the scoresheet, here it was the decision of Attwell to not show teenage Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall a second yellow card and subsequent red for wiping out Kostas Tsimikas that raised Liverpool’s heckles.

Tsimikas was still off the field receiving treatment when former Liverpool man Dominic Solanke ran on to a ball down the channel, held possession and then teed up Bergvall to sweep home the only goal four minutes from time.

Instead of defending a situation against 10 men, it was the Reds who found themselves with a numerical disadvantage through no fault of their own. And it ultimately proved the difference during a dreary encounter that was overshadowed by a horror injury suffered by home midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur during the opening moments, the Uruguayan eventually taken to hospital for overnight observation.

This, of course, was the first week of a trial in which referees are compelled to explain VAR officials to supporters inside the stadium. It led to a comedy moment when, after an interminable wait to determine a clear offside by Solanke, Attwell chose to blow his whistle before describing the call, threatening to deafen everyone in the process.

But any such humour was later lost on Slot, whose reaction on the touchline to Bergvall’s winner was surpassed by that of his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, who was shown a yellow card.

There will be concern that, after the poor overall showing in drawing against Manchester United on Sunday, the Reds again were way below their best form.

However, as Slot himself later conceded, if Liverpool are to lose a game then it’s best for it be the first game in a two-legged tie. The Reds can turn matters around in a month – and consign the disbelief at the manner of this defeat to a mere footnote in the campaign.