Tottenham Hotspur earned a narrow 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, with Lucas Bergvall scoring the decisive goal. The young Swede’s second-half strike puts Spurs in a favorable position ahead of the second leg at Anfield next month.
While Tottenham showed grit and determination, Liverpool delivered a lackluster performance, leaving plenty of work to do in the return fixture.
How the Game Unfolded
First Half:
Liverpool manager Arne Slot surprised many by fielding a near-full-strength lineup despite their packed schedule. Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou also named a strong side, including a debut for goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Spurs started brightly, with Radu Dragusin forcing a sharp save from Alisson Becker early on. However, the match was interrupted by a lengthy stoppage after Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a head/neck injury and had to be stretchered off.
The first half was largely scrappy, with Tottenham pressing aggressively and stifling Liverpool’s build-up play. While Liverpool grew into the game as halftime approached, their attacking line struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Second Half:
The second period began in a similar vein, with Tottenham maintaining their defensive discipline and Liverpool failing to find rhythm. Spurs thought they had taken the lead when Dominic Solanke converted a pass from Pedro Porro, but VAR ruled him offside.
The breakthrough came when Solanke teed up Lucas Bergvall, who held off Ibrahima Konaté to score the match-winner. Despite late pressure from Liverpool, including a brilliant save by Kinsky to deny Darwin Núñez, Tottenham held firm to claim a crucial win.
Player Ratings
Tottenham (4-3-3)
- GK: Antonin Kinsky – 8.8/10
A composed debut. Made crucial saves and impressed with his distribution. - RB: Pedro Porro – 7.0/10
Energetic performance but missed two big chances. - CB: Radu Dragusin – 7.4/10
Solid defensively and produced a vital goal-line clearance. - CB: Archie Gray – 7.6/10
Mature display from the young defender. - LB: Djed Spence – 8.0/10
Outstanding against Mohamed Salah, showing bravery and skill. - CM: Lucas Bergvall – 8.2/10
Tireless effort in midfield and scored the decisive goal. - CM: Yves Bissouma – 7.7/10
Controlled the midfield with composure and strength. - CM: Rodrigo Bentancur – 6.2/10
Subbed early due to injury but contributed well before his exit. - RW: Dejan Kulusevski – 6.6/10
Worked hard but lacked cutting edge. - ST: Dominic Solanke – 7.5/10
Played a key role in the winner and held the ball up effectively. - LW: Son Heung-min (c) – 6.8/10
A quiet performance by his standards.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Alisson – 7.0/10
Made key saves but was let down by his defense. - RB: Conor Bradley – 6.7/10
Struggled under pressure but worked hard. - CB: Jarell Quansah – 6.7/10
Decent but substituted after 30 minutes. - CB: Virgil van Dijk (c) – 7.5/10
Commanding at the back and blocked a crucial chance. - LB: Kostas Tsimikas – 7.5/10
One of Liverpool’s best players, solid defensively and in attack. - CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 7.2/10
Showed flashes of quality but couldn’t dictate the game. - CM: Ryan Gravenberch – 6.8/10
Worked hard but lacked creativity. - RM: Mohamed Salah – 6.0/10
Kept quiet by Djed Spence. - AM: Curtis Jones – 6.5/10
Struggled to impact the game. - LM: Cody Gakpo – 6.9/10
Lively but lacked end product. - ST: Diogo Jota – 6.0/10
Ineffective and subbed off early in the second half.
Key Talking Points
1. Tottenham’s Young Guns Impress
- Lucas Bergvall: The 18-year-old delivered a mature performance, scoring the match-winner and excelling in a disciplined midfield role.
- Antonin Kinsky: The Czech goalkeeper made a stellar debut, showcasing his shot-stopping and distribution skills.
2. Liverpool’s Lackluster Performance
Liverpool’s attack was unusually disjointed, with passes going astray and key players like Salah and Jota failing to make an impact. They will need a much-improved display in the second leg.
3. The Importance of the Second Leg
A 1-0 deficit is far from insurmountable, especially at Anfield, where Liverpool has a history of turning ties around. However, Tottenham’s disciplined performance suggests they won’t make it easy.
What’s Next?
- Second Leg: The two sides will meet again at Anfield next month, where Liverpool will look to overturn the deficit and secure a place in the Carabao Cup final.
- Tottenham: Spurs will hope to carry this momentum into their next fixtures as they navigate injuries and suspensions.
- Liverpool: Slot’s side must regroup quickly and address their sluggish performances before the second leg.
Player of the Match: Antonin Kinsky (Tottenham)
