Tottenham Hotspur

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A week is a long time in football.

Ange Postecoglou was the "angriest he had ever been" with the handball decision during the defeat by Newcastle (you can refresh your memory on the incident here). But following last night's victory over holders Liverpool, the Spurs boss has a clearer outlook.

"I didn't think the decision was right about the handball. But I said, it's very hard at the moment, it's very confusing, to understand certain elements of the game," said Postecoglou.

"Now we've been told consistently in the last few weeks, because I've been screaming about it from the sidelines, because a lot of teams have got away with a lot of fouls with us, without bookings, because the referee plays advantage.

"We've been told consistently that if we play advantage, as long as it's not a cynical foul, then the player does not get cautioned. So that's been relayed to us on a weekly basis. Because we feel like that's been happening."

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I'm going to look to my good friend and colleague, Gary Rose, to help us with this one:

The International Football Association Board's Laws of the Games state: "If the referee plays the advantage for an offence for which a caution/sending-off would have been issued had play been stopped, this caution/sending-off must be issued when the ball is next out of play.

"However, if the offence was denying the opposing team an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour; if the offence was interfering with or stopping a promising attack, the player is not cautioned."

The crucial part of the above is the final sentence. The offence - the foul by Bergvall - was interfering with a promising attack.

If referee Stuart Attwell did indeed play advantage then, applying the above, he did not have to go back and caution Bergvall.

But the laws also state "advantage should not be applied in situations involving serious foul play, violent conduct or a second cautionable offence unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal."

So, was this a clear opportunity to score? Keep your thumbs warm and let us know.

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It's the first time we've seen the usually mild-mannered Arne Slot get really angry.

The Liverpool boss gave a furious reaction to the incident involving left-back Kostas Tsimikas and eventual goalscorer Lucas Bergvall.

So what made the Dutchman lose his cool?

Teenager Bergvall, already on a yellow card, brought down Tsimikas but play continued with the Reds retaining possession and crucially, the Swede escaping a second yellow.

Unfortunately for Slot and his team, Tsimikas was off the pitch receiving treatment when the 18-year-old scored to put Spurs ahead.

Slot and Liverpool captain thought Virgil van Dijk thought it was a clear cut, while Ange Postecoglou hand the rules and regulations ready to quote.

Was Bergvall lucky to still be on the pitch? Send us your thoughts on the incident, and any other comments on last night's game via the usual channels.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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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.

Tottenham Hotspur

Rodrigo Bentancur was taken off on a stretcher just six minutes into Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, after he fell while unchallenged as he stretched to head a ball from a corner.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international was treated on the pitch for around nine minutes and received oxygen before he was replaced by forward Brennan Johnson.

It was later confirmed he was conscious and talking and was taken to hospital for further checks.

Bentancur took to Instagram in the early hours of this morning to write 'all good, guys!', and thank fans for their messages.

Image source, Rodrigo Bentancur Instagram

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It may only be a narrow advantage but Tottenham head to Anfield next month with a one goal buffer, thanks to 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall's second-half winner.

The question as to whether the Sweden midfielder should even have been on the pitch, however, is something we'll discuss in detail.

Pedro Porro missed a great chance to put Spurs ahead after a mistake by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson which left boss Ange Postecoglou to drop to his knees on the touchline in disbelief. Dominic Solanke also saw a goal ruled out for offside.

Liverpool were far from their best, with the word 'leggy' most commonly used to describe Arne Slot's side performance last night.

One of the Reds' best chances fell to substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold but his fizzing shot was cleared off the line by Radu Dragusin.

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Hello, folks. It's cold, it's dark and it's January. Go careful wherever you're heading today.

If you're a Tottenham fan, you'll be happy this morning. If you're a Liverpool, maybe not so much. First legs of the Carabao Cup semi-finals are done and last night's game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had plenty of talking points for us to go over.

There's also new manager in town - one we already know well. Graham Potter has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with West Ham and will be unveiled at a news conference today. We'll bring you what he has to say later on.

And it's the third round of the FA Cup weekend. I say weekend, the action starts tonight and then carries on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.