Tottenham Hotspur defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a late goal from teenager Lucas Bergvall.
The match was marked by a controversial refereeing decision that left Liverpool manager Arne Slot fuming.
Bergvall’s decisive goal came in the 86th minute after he converted a pass from Dominic Solanke. It was Bergvall’s first goal for Tottenham. However, earlier in the play, Bergvall had tripped Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas with a sliding tackle. Despite this, referee Stuart Attwell chose not to show a second yellow card, allowing the play to continue.
Slot was outspoken in his criticism of the decision. “The referee’s choice significantly influenced the outcome,” he said. “The fourth official told us it wasn’t a second yellow because they didn’t stop the counter-attack. Every manager would prefer a second yellow in that situation rather than an advantage.”
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou defended the referee’s call, stating, “Was it a red card? No, it wasn’t. Officials told us that unless it’s a cynical tackle, advantage is played, and no card is shown. To me, it was clear.”
The victory offered some relief to Postecoglou, whose injury-depleted squad has faced a challenging season. The team’s troubles worsened when Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a head injury in the first half. “I’m very proud,” Postecoglou said. “We had to deal with adversity again. Losing Rodrigo in such a tough situation was difficult, but the players remained composed.”
Liverpool, who had been unbeaten in their previous 24 matches under Slot, struggled to find their rhythm. Despite dominating possession, they were unable to make the most of their chances. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s effort was cleared off the line, adding to their frustrations.
Slot remained hopeful for the second leg at Anfield on February 6. “If you’re going to lose, it’s best to do so in a tie with a second leg,” he said. “We know what we need to do at Anfield.”
Tottenham’s narrow win gives them a slight advantage as they aim to end a 17-year wait for silverware. Liverpool will now need to regroup and overturn the deficit in the return leg.
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