Tottenham will take a one-goal advantage to Anfield in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final after narrowly beating the Premier League leaders in north London on Wednesday.
A goal from 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall four minutes from time proved the difference in an exciting encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The contest, however, was marred by what appeared to be a very serious injury to Rodrigo Bentancur in the first-half which resulted in the midfielder being taken to hospital.
Spurs have never been involved in a goalless draw during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure and it looked like the game was headed that way before Bergvall found the net to inflict only Arne Slot’s side a second defeat of the season.
For Tottenham, it was a first win since the EFL last-eight victory over Manchester United.
Victory in the first leg! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ktX5W2OTjA
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025
Prior to the game, Postecoglou had cited his side’s long absentee list as a factor in their downturn in results in recent weeks, going as far to say Salah would struggle to be prolific in such an injury-hit team.
And Spurs were dealt another blow when the returning Bentancur had to be stretchered off after just six minutes and taken to hospital for treatment. .
Despite the change and the subsequent lengthy delay, it was Postecoglou’s side who started brightest. The league leaders, meanwhile, were careless in possession.
Alisson had to be alert to keep out Radu Dragușin’s early effort, while Dominic Solanke flicked narrowly wide from Son Heung-min’s driven cross.
Liverpool were also forced into a first-half change after Jarell Quansah was replaced by Wataru Endo.
The Reds then had a couple of half-chances as the half drew to a close, courtesy of Salah and Cody Gakpo, but neither effort really troubled Spurs new boy Antonin Kinksy.
“An incredible time to score your first goal for the club!” 🎙
Lucas Bergvall puts Spurs in front on the 85-minute mark of the first leg! 💥 pic.twitter.com/NxZxPt9vLH
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
After the break, it was Liverpool’s shot stopper at the centre of the action when Alisson was very nearly robbed by Bergvall as he tried to play out from the back.
The Brazilian escaped the first challenge but Bergvall came back for another bite, forcing the ball into the path of Pedro Porro, whose initial shot was blocked but who then squandered the follow-up.
Kinsky was again called into action when he saved from substitute Darwin Nunez. Dragusin then cleared off the line from Trent Alexander-Arnold – another of Slot’s subs – as the game began to open up.
With just under 15-minutes remaining, Spurs thought they had taken the lead when Porro’s pass found Solanke who ran clear of the Reds defence.
But the former Liverpool man was adjudged to have been offside by VAR.
Ten minutes later, the hosts did score one that counted. From another Porro pass, Solanke held off Ibrahima Konate before laying the ball off to Bergvall who finished well from just inside the box for his first Spurs goal.
The visitors were left frustrated that Bergvall was even on the pitch to score after avoiding a second yellow card for a foul on Konstantinos Tsimikas shortly before the goal.
In the end, the Swede’s strike proved enough to give Spurs a slender lead going into the second leg at Anfield on 6 February.
