Tottenham vs Liverpool LIVE: Carabao Cup result and reaction as Lucas Bergvall scores late winner
Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool: Bergvall’s late goal ensures Spurs take a lead into the second leg at Anfield.
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Your support makes all the difference.Lucas Bergvall struck an 86th-minute winner to earn Tottenham a 1-0 victory over Liverpool and a slender advantage after a cagey Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Spurs were without 10 players for this tie and had lost 6-3 to Arne Slot’s irresistible Premier League leaders last month, but turned the form table on its head - albeit with a touch of fortune.
Match-winner Bergvall was lucky to avoid a second yellow card for a late tackle on Kostas Tsimikas moments before he fired home his first goal for the club to earn Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou a much-needed win.
Postecoglou had faced external pressure after a nightmare run of form amid a horror injury crisis, which deepened with Rodrigo Bentancur forced off early amid worrying scenes, but his injury-hit team with debutant goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky managed to shut out Liverpool to head to Anfield next month with a narrow lead.
Relive the Carabao Cup action with our live blog below:
Virgil van Dijk responds to controversial Tottenham winner
Liverpool captain was furious that Lucas Bergvall was allowed to stay on the pitch to score Tottenham’s winning goal in the 1-0 win.
“I think it was quite obvious that it was going to be a second yellow,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.
“Obviously I think it was pretty clear. It was no coincidence that a minute later he scores the winner.
“He [Attwell] made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. It was quite obvious I think and everyone on the sidelines knew it was supposed to be a yellow.
“There is a linesman there, a fourth official. There is VAR there and a referee, and he doesn’t get a second yellow. I’m not saying this is the reason we lost today, but it was a big moment in the game.”
Ange Postecoglou on Tottenham’s victory
Ange Postegolou saluted the efforts of his depleted Tottenham side after beating Liverpool 1-0 and taking a small step towards ending a 16-year trophy drought.
“Yeah, very proud. Again, we had to deal with some adversity tonight. We started the game really well I thought. Then obviously we lose Rodrigo, and in the way it happened, it was quite distressing.
“Again, we had to compose ourselves and deal with that and re-organise. Super proud of the players. I have been all along.
“It hasn’t been through the want of trying that our results haven’t been as good, it’s certainly not been on them, it’s just that we haven’t been able to get the consistency to get the results that we need. Just proud that they feel good tonight, that they get the rewards of their hard work.
“We haven’t achieved anything, but I think just that feeling of having a victory against a top opponent in a big game, really pleased for everyone.”
Arne Slot confused by Lucas Bergvall decision
Arne Slot on Lucas Bergvall’s controversial goal:
“When he didn’t give the second yellow, I didn’t think anyone would think it would have such a big impact 30 seconds later.
“I think the referee was probably also like, is this happening? For him, it was also far from ideal. I am 99.9 per cent sure that’s what he thinks because I can’t look in his head and he didn’t say how he felt.
“It was a good goal. Let that be clear, ball in behind, cut back cross and Bergvall stayed calm to score and finished it off. I don’t think you are interested in that but the moment before.”
Ignore the controversy, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have made one thing clear
It’s a bit premature to say this was a night when Tottenham’s young team came of age, but this 1-0 victory over Liverpool was an impressive show of maturity when they most needed it.
An 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall appropriately settled it, crowning the fine work of fellow teenager Archie Gray. Ange Postecoglou couldn’t be more effusive afterwards, and that’s understandable. It might well save Tottenham’s season, just as Liverpool’s has a slight sense of lag. The Premier League leaders were still very energised about the controversial Bergvall goal that won this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, with complaints that the goalscorer should have had a second booking, eventually seeing Arne Slot unusually lose his cool.
Ignore the controversy, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have made one thing clear
Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool: Despite the noise around Lucas Bergvall’s winning goal, the Australian could point to a much-improved performance and evidence that his players are still fighting for him
Rodrigo Bentancur latest as Tottenham player provides update after ‘worrying’ incident
Rodrigo Bentancur has posted a positive update from hospital after the Tottenham midfielder was forced off the pitch during the Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool with a suspected head injury.
Bentancur was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital with his manager Ange Postecoglou confirming that he was conscious despite the “worrying” incident.
And the Uruguay later confirmed that he was well in a post on his Instagram story, accompanied with a picture of him in hospital, after Tottenham beat Liverpool 1-0.
Bentancur latest as Spurs player provides update on worrying incident
The midfielder was strechered off the pitch after receiving around eight minutes of treatment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Arne Slot responds as Liverpool rage over Lucas Bergvall goal after red card reprieve
Liverpool boss Arne Slot bemoaned the decision by referee Stuart Attwell not to send off Tottenham match-winner Lucas Bergvall moments before he struck the only goal of their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
The already-booked Bergvall avoided a second yellow card for a late tackle on Kostas Tsimikas as the Reds counter-attacked in the 84th minute.
Slot and his Liverpool players cut frustrated figures, but their fury increased within 120 seconds when Bergvall rifled home from Dominic Solanke’s lay-off to earn injury-hit Spurs a precious 1-0 victory ahead of next month’s second leg at Anfield.
Arne Slot responds as Liverpool rage over Lucas Bergvall goal after red card reprieve
Bergvall avoided a second yellow card two minutes before he struck an 86th-minute winner
‘This is your game’: Ange Postecoglou launches into VAR rant as history made
Ange Postecoglou asked why VAR is not being questioned more by the English public after Stuart Attwell’s historic public announcement during Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win over Liverpool.
Lucas Bergvall’s 86th-minute winner earned Spurs a 1-0 win in their home tie ahead of next month’s return leg at Anfield.
But they had earlier been denied an opener when Dominic Solanke’s strike was ruled out after VAR had checked for offside.
‘This is your game’: Ange Postecoglou launches into VAR rant as history made
Referee Stuart Attwell gave the first in-stadium public announcement in English football after VAR ruled out Dominic Solanke’s goal
Kinsky on who he was celebrating with at the end:
“It was my sister because yesterday I got to know there is a possibility of me being in goal today so I called them immediately, my sister came, her boyfriend, my parents, I was so happy to have them here on such a special night.
“That was him [his dad, a former goalkeeper, shown in the stands] I hope he’s proud. The whole family, my grandfather was also a goalkeeper, he was watching as well. I hope they are all happy.”
Antonin Kinsky speaking to Sky Sports:
“I would say I’m a big dreamer, I always make my own visions of the future. Probably this dream I have never dreamt this one yeah, amazing.
“I’m really happy for the whole club. I came three days ago, everything worked so good, all the people are kind. I’m so happy for them and the whole team but this is just the first leg.”
More from Postecoglou
The Tottenham boss also gave his thoughts on Antonin Kinsky’s debut, Dominic Solanke and what he thought of the VAR announcement.
Postecoglou said: “That is a big occasion for a young man [Antonin Kinsky making his debut]. He handled himself outstandingly.”
On Dominic Solanke he added: “I don’t know where he gets the energy from. He keeps soldiering on. An unbelievable finish, I thought we deserved it on the night. We deserved the victory and really pleased the players get rewards.
”If people think that announcement [of VAR’s decision to rule out Solanke’s goal] added anything to the game tonight then I am sorry. It used to be you put your flag up and the game goes on, but anyway.”
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