Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool (Jan 8, 2025) Game Analysis

Lucas Bergvall scored his first purpose for Tottenham Hotspur to present his facet a shock 1-0 victory over holders Liverpool within the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old Swede rifled an excellent end previous Liverpool keeper Alisson within the 86th minute to reward the injury-hit hosts who shortly earlier than had seen a Dominic Solanke purpose dominated out.

Liverpool, who beat Chelsea to win the competitors for a file tenth time final season, have been nowhere close to their finest as their 24-match unbeaten run in all competitions got here to an finish.

They did have a authentic trigger for criticism although as Bergvall, who had already been booked, was lucky to flee a second yellow card for a foul on Kostas Tsimikas moments earlier than he netted the profitable purpose.

“He ought to have been off, it was a giant second,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk stated.

Whereas Arne Slot’s facet suffered solely their second lack of the season they may nonetheless really feel assured of turning across the tie within the second leg at Anfield subsequent month.

Newcastle United beat Arsenal 2-0 away within the first leg of the opposite semifinal on Tuesday.

Tottenham had managed solely three wins of their previous 14 video games in all competitions with accidents decimating Ange Postecoglou’s squad and when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was taken off on a stretcher after a worrying fall early on, the omens regarded poor for the hosts who gave a debut to new keeper Antonin Kinsky.

Liverpool received 6-3 at Tottenham within the Premier League earlier than Christmas, however they regarded torpid for lengthy durations on Wednesday regardless of dominating possession.

It was candy revenge for Tottenham for whom Bergvall confirmed why he’s rated so extremely — turning into the crew’s youngest scorer within the League Cup since Gareth Bale in 2007.

Postecoglou claimed earlier this season that he all the time wins a trophy in his second season at a membership however current outcomes have heaped stress on the Australian.

The followers have been singing his identify on the finish although as a primary trophy because the 2008 League Cup moved a bit of nearer, even when there may be nonetheless a lot work to be finished.

Tottenham had the higher possibilities within the first half with Radu Dragusin having an early effort saved by Alisson and Solanke bundling a Son Heung-min cross vast both facet of the prolonged stoppage for Bentancur’s harm.

Mohamed Salah, unusually quiet, fired one effort vast for Liverpool whereas Kinsky had a second of alarm when a shot by Cody Gakpo nearly squirmed underneath his physique.

Alisson nearly gifted Tottenham the lead shortly after halftime, dallying on the ball and being dispossessed by Bergvall who prodded the ball again to Pedro Porro whose first shot was blocked by Virgil van Dijk whereas his follow-up try was clipped vast of a gaping purpose, a lot to the frustration of Postecoglou who fell to his knees within the technical space.

Liverpool nearly took the lead when Trent Alexander-Arnold, on in its place, had a shot cleared off the road by Dragusin.

Tottenham dug deep although and Solanke was denied by a VAR offside determination through which Stuart Attwell turned the primary referee to announce it on to the group.

“I might be extra concerned with him explaining why he did not give a second yellow card to Bergvall,” Slot quipped later.

The hosts wouldn’t be denied although and Bergvall despatched the house followers into raptures with a medical end after nice work by Solanke.