Postecoglou’s VAR Frustration Spills Over with Curious Dig at Liverpool | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou’s Curious Grievance with Liverpool Echoes Beyond the Touchline

Friction with VAR and Familiar Frustrations

In the increasingly unforgiving world of Premier League management, pressure builds not only from within but from all angles—supporters, pundits, press conferences, and, increasingly, post-match microphones. Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham Hotspur manager once hailed for his candour and refreshing approach, has once again found himself in an awkward spotlight.

Following Spurs’ 1-0 defeat at Chelsea—Tottenham’s 16th league loss of the season—Postecoglou’s frustrations spilled into the open. Speaking after a disallowed equaliser, the Australian coach accused the VAR system of “killing the game” in a fiery exchange with Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison. But his irritation didn’t end there.

In a press conference that followed, he turned his ire towards what he perceives as an imbalance in how clubs are discussed in the media, particularly when controversial refereeing decisions are concerned. As The Telegraph reported, Postecoglou took aim at Liverpool, and the pundits associated with the club.

Misplaced Priorities Amid Inconsistent Results

It’s a perplexing detour from a manager known for clarity. While the grievances around VAR are widespread and at times entirely warranted, the choice to single out Liverpool—and by extension, pundits like Jamie Carragher—feels like an unhelpful distraction from Tottenham’s on-pitch struggles.

Postecoglou’s assertion of a “national campaign” in support of Liverpool not only misjudges the general scrutiny applied to refereeing decisions across the league, but also overlooks his own benefit from controversial calls. The notorious Luis Díaz offside error at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season springs immediately to mind—a moment that left even neutrals stunned by the officiating lapse. Liverpool ended that match with nine men after a red card to Curtis Jones that many deemed especially harsh.

Photo: IMAGO

In another moment of irony, Postecoglou himself acknowledged the questionable decision-making that benefited his side in the Carabao Cup semi-final earlier this year. Lucas Bergvall’s winner against Liverpool followed a clear foul on Kostas Tsimikas—an offence that went unpunished despite Bergvall already being on a yellow card.

Rhetoric Clashing with Reality

This isn’t the first time Postecoglou has needled Liverpool with subtle or not-so-subtle digs. When Spurs were eliminated from the FA Cup on the same day Liverpool lost to Plymouth Argyle, the manager quipped in his press conference: “How did Liverpool go today?”

For someone who’s described himself as a “massive Liverpool fan” growing up, these remarks strike a contradictory tone. It’s entirely fair for a manager to feel aggrieved at decisions—or even to feel his club is unfairly portrayed—but the persistent return to Liverpool as a point of comparison feels unnecessarily pointed.

Perhaps it’s a reflection of how entrenched the scrutiny has become. Tottenham are in a worrying run of form, with the Europa League their last hope, their defence leaking goals, and their performances often lacking structure. For a club aiming to push into the elite, the path forward is steep and requires clarity, not confrontation.