Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Tottenham will take a one-goal benefit to Anfield within the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final after narrowly beating the Premier League leaders in north London on Wednesday.
A purpose from 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall 4 minutes from time proved the distinction in an thrilling encounter on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The competition, nevertheless, was marred by what gave the impression to be a really severe harm to Rodrigo Bentancur within the first-half which resulted within the midfielder being taken to hospital.
Spurs have by no means been concerned in a goalless draw throughout Ange Postecoglou’s tenure and it seemed like the sport was headed that approach earlier than Bergvall discovered the online to inflict solely Arne Slot’s aspect a second defeat of the season.
For Tottenham, it was a primary win because the EFL last-eight victory over Manchester United.
Victory within the first leg! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ktX5W2OTjA
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025
Previous to the sport, Postecoglou had cited his aspect’s lengthy absentee listing as an element of their downturn in ends in current weeks, going as far to say Salah would wrestle to be prolific in such an injury-hit workforce.
And Spurs had been dealt one other blow when the returning Bentancur needed to be stretchered off after simply six minutes and brought to hospital for therapy. .
Regardless of the change and the following prolonged delay, it was Postecoglou’s aspect who began brightest. The league leaders, in the meantime, had been careless in possession.
Alisson needed to be alert to maintain out Radu Dragușin’s early effort, whereas Dominic Solanke flicked narrowly huge from Son Heung-min’s pushed cross.
Liverpool had been additionally pressured right into a first-half change after Jarell Quansah was changed by Wataru Endo.
The Reds then had a few half-chances because the half drew to an in depth, courtesy of Salah and Cody Gakpo, however neither effort actually troubled Spurs new boy Antonin Kinksy.
“An unbelievable time to attain your first purpose for the membership!” 🎙
Lucas Bergvall places Spurs in entrance on the 85-minute mark of the primary leg! 💥 pic.twitter.com/NxZxPt9vLH
— Sky Sports activities Soccer (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
After the break, it was Liverpool’s shot stopper on the centre of the motion when Alisson was very almost robbed by Bergvall as he tried to play out from the again.
The Brazilian escaped the primary problem however Bergvall got here again for one more chunk, forcing the ball into the trail of Pedro Porro, whose preliminary shot was blocked however who then squandered the follow-up.
Kinsky was once more referred to as into motion when he saved from substitute Darwin Nunez. Dragusin then cleared off the road from Trent Alexander-Arnold – one other of Slot’s subs – as the sport started to open up.
With slightly below 15-minutes remaining, Spurs thought that they had taken the lead when Porro’s move discovered Solanke who ran away from the Reds defence.
However the former Liverpool man was adjudged to have been offside by VAR.
Ten minutes later, the hosts did rating one which counted. From one other Porro move, Solanke held off Ibrahima Konate earlier than laying the ball off to Bergvall who completed properly from simply contained in the field for his first Spurs purpose.
The guests had been left pissed off that Bergvall was even on the pitch to attain after avoiding a second yellow card for a foul on Konstantinos Tsimikas shortly earlier than the purpose.
In the long run, the Swede’s strike proved sufficient to provide Spurs a slender lead going into the second leg at Anfield on 6 February.
