Tottenham Hotspur claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Lucas Bergvall’s late goal proved decisive, but the match ended under a cloud of controversy.
Bergvall, an 18-year-old midfielder, struck in the 86th minute to give Spurs the advantage heading into the second leg at Anfield. However, Liverpool was left fuming as Bergvall was involved in a contentious challenge moments before his goal. His late tackle on Kostas Tsimikas, which went unpunished by referee Stuart Attwell, sparked outrage, especially as Tsimikas was off the pitch receiving treatment when the goal was scored.
Despite the controversy, Spurs showcased resilience under manager Ange Postecoglou, who relied on youthful players due to a depleted squad. Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, making his debut, delivered a standout performance, including a crucial save to deny Darwin Núñez late in the game. Bergvall also displayed remarkable composure, justifying Spurs’ £8.5m summer investment in him.
Liverpool, led by head coach Arne Slot, struggled to find their rhythm despite fielding a strong lineup featuring Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Although they created some chances, including a shot cleared off the line by Spurs’ Radu Drăgușin, their overall performance fell short of expectations. This marked only their second defeat under Slot, with the contentious nature of the loss adding to their frustration.
