Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool: Lucas Bergvall strikes late on to give Spurs Carabao Cup semi-final first leg advantage

Eighteen-year-old Lucas Bergvall's first goal for Tottenham has given his side a precious 1-0 lead at Anfield in the Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool, even if it was a controversial winner.

Arne Slot's Reds were emphatic 6-3 winners when these teams met in the Premier League in north London in December, but this was a tighter, error-filled match in which the top two scorers lacked their usual sharpness in the last third. until Dominic Solanke impressively outwitted Ibrahima Konate for Bergvall to strike after 86 minutes.

Liverpool had pleaded for a foul – and possibly a second yellow card – when Bergvall slid into Kostas Tsimikas just minutes before he struck. But referee Stuart Attwell allowed play to continue and later decided not to punish the Spurs teenager. Tsimikas left the field after receiving treatment when Bergvall scored.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was furious. “[The ref] in my opinion made a mistake and I told him so. I think it was pretty clear and everyone on the sidelines knew it had to be yellow. There's a linesman there, a fourth official, there's VAR and a referee, and he doesn't get a second yellow. “I'm not saying that's the reason we lost today, but it was a big moment in the game.”

Solanke had already seen his own goal ruled out for offside when the VAR call was first announced over the public address system by referee Attwell. That news was greeted with cheers from the Spurs fans and celebratory cheers from Liverpool supporters, but the mood of those supporters changed with Bergvall's late intervention.

For Ange Postecoglou and his group, this could be a huge moment in their development. Spurs went into the tie already heavily depleted and with new signing Antonin Kinsky thrown in for his debut in goal. They then lost Rodrigo Bentancur to a worrying injury in the first half, with the midfielder taken off the pitch and then taken to hospital. He later posted a positive update on social media, saying, “All's well.”

But with Kinsky impressing in his first game, including a sharp save in second-half stoppage time to deny Darwin Nunez, Spurs were able to restrict an anomalous Liverpool side. They could have taken the lead earlier, with Pedro Porro seeing a shot blocked and then going wide when Bergvall caught Alisson in possession. However, Radu Dragusin was needed to block Trent Alexander-Arnold's fierce shot on the line.

While Spurs celebrated what they hope will be a turning point after a four-match winless run, Slot's side have started the new year slowly, first dropping points at home to Manchester United in the Premier League and now leaving London with a tough battle to reverse this draw in the second leg on Thursday 6 February.

Controversial Spurs goal: Why did Liverpool want Bergvall sent off?

68: Lucas Bergvall was shown a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Liverpool's Luis Diaz.

84: Bergvall slides into Kostas Tsimikas. Ref Stuart Attwell plays on, leading to Darwin Nunez shooting on goal. Play is then stopped so Tsimikas can receive treatment, but there is no punishment for Bergvall, despite protests from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

86: Two minutes and five seconds after Bergvall's tackle, he makes the breakthrough for Spurs, while Tsimikas is on the sidelines waiting to return to the field after treatment. A Liverpool coach is booked by referee Attwell for complaining about the situation. Spurs' goal came straight from an unchallenged drop ball.

Postecoglou praises the resilience of Spurs

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou:

“We are constantly dealing with setbacks. We started the match very well and almost scored just before the end. [the Bentancur injury]. Then we lose a key figure in such circumstances. But all my players are resilient and keep going, and they did that today.

“It's unbelievable when you think that we have a couple of 18-year-olds playing out of position. A left-back who is not a left-back and a goalkeeper who is making his debut.”

“The boys gave everything, we had to work hard. They used an important talent and we cannot make those changes. But the boys continued and we got a deserved goal.”

Closing: I never had the feeling that we were going to lose

Liverpool boss Arne Slot:

“I never had the feeling that we were going to lose this game. Spurs started better than us, but after that we had control, a lot more possession. If you go back to 10 for a few seconds against a team that can play as good football as Tottenham can [score].

“If you ever have to lose a match, it is better if there is a second leg to be played. It is far from ideal.

“I don't think we'll reach that level [of the 6-3 win] in every game we play. We all know how important it is for us and also for the Spurs fans to get to the final. We knew it would never be the same match as two weeks ago.”

Story of the match in statistics…

What's next for Tottenham and Liverpool?

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