Tottenham players celebrate Lucas Bergvall's opening goal against LiverpoolGetty Images

Tottenham players celebrate Lucas Bergvall's opening goal against Liverpool

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham edged out Liverpool in a controversial finale to their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

Lucas Bergvall gave Spurs a narrow advantage to take to Anfield - but Liverpool were left raging that the 18-year-old was on the pitch to make the decisive contribution four minutes from time.

Bergvall was on a yellow card when he caught Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas late in an incident not seen by referee Stuart Attwell.

Tsimikas was still off the pitch when Bergvall scored moments later, prompting a furious reaction from head coach Arne Slot, who was cautioned.

Spurs deserved the win after Pedro Porro missed a great chance and Dominic Solanke saw a goal ruled out for offside, but the manner of their win will leave a bitter taste for Liverpool, who suffered only their second defeat under Slot.

Liverpool came closest when substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold's shot was cleared off the line by Radu Dragusin, but this was a very disappointing display by the Premier League leaders.

And the victory for Postecoglou's side, who were already without 10 players through injury and illness, came after they lost Rodrigo Bentancur amid worrying scenes early on. He went down in the penalty area and was taken off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace after 10 minutes of treatment.

It was later confirmed he was conscious, talking and would undergo further checks in hospital.

Spurs young guns deliver for Postecoglou

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou showed faith in his youthful stars in the hothouse of an EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, and was fully vindicated as they delivered in style.

Bergvall was the name on everyone's lips at the final whistle, not just because the 18-year-old Swede played with great maturity in midfield, but because Liverpool will feel he should have been shown a second yellow card, with the video assistant referee (VAR) unable to intervene once play was allowed to carry on after his reckless tackle on Tsimikas by referee Attwell.

In the wider context, however, Bergvall has shown amid Spurs' struggles exactly why they were so keen to acquire his services in the summer, the £8.5m paid to Djurgarden already looking like a bargain.

And sharing top billing was 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, barely through the door after a £12.5m move from Slavia Prague but thrown straight into this crucial game by Postecoglou.

He showed great confidence with the ball at his feet and when commanding his area, his biggest contribution coming late on when he reacted superbly to turn away Darwin Nunez's header.

Spurs have a slender advantage to take to Anfield, but they will be well satisfied with that, having been thrashed 6-3 at home by Liverpool recently in the Premier League.

Off-colour Liverpool left fuming

Liverpool will take a burning sense of injustice into the EFL Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield after this contentious conclusion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They have every right to wonder why Bergvall was able to score the vital winner for Spurs, matters made worse by the fact Tsimikas - who was on the receiving end of his foul that should have brought a second yellow card - was still off the pitch when the Swede beat Alisson.

Away from this controversy, Liverpool and head coach Slot will know this was a performance far below the standards they have set themselves this season.

Slot fielded a strong side, with captain Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah in the starting line-up. But Liverpool were unusually sloppy and lacklustre, surviving a narrow offside when Solanke's goal was ruled out after Porro shot wide with only Alisson to beat, after Bergvall had caught the keeper in possession twice.

Liverpool did not have their normal spark, although substitute Nunez had a couple of opportunities when he came on, and this allowed Spurs to build confidence and momentum.

The Premier League leaders were nowhere near their best, but they will still feel a one-goal deficit is well within their compass when the teams meet again at Anfield.

Player of the match

A. Kinský
7.80
31 A. Kinský
7.80
15 L. Bergvall
7.53
19 D. Solanke
7.50
14 A. Gray
7.36
24 D. Spence
7.22
6 R. Drăgușin
6.96
21 D. Kulusevski
6.86
23 Pedro Porro
6.72
22 B. Johnson
6.66
8 Y. Bissouma
6.46
30 R. Bentancur
6.14
7 Son Heung-Min
6.13
16 T. Werner
6.09
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