In a tightly contested League Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, an 86th-minute goal from 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall secured a 1-0 victory for Tottenham Hotspur over Liverpool.
The match began with a concerning incident as Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur suffered an early injury, leading to a lengthy stoppage and his subsequent substitution.
Liverpool, holders of the League Cup, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match. Their best opportunity came when Dominic Solanke found the net, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR review, marking a historic moment as referee Stuart Attwell became the first to announce a VAR decision directly to the crowd in English men's football.
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Bergvall, who had earlier escaped a second yellow card for a foul on Kostas Tsimikas, received a pass from Solanke and fired a superb finish past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. This goal marked Bergvall's first for Tottenham, making him the club's youngest scorer in the League Cup since Gareth Bale in 2007.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk expressed frustration post-match, suggesting that Bergvall should have received a second yellow card prior to his goal. Manager Arne Slot echoed this sentiment, questioning the referee's decision-making.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, under pressure due to recent results, praised his team's resilience, especially highlighting the contributions of young players like Bergvall and Archie Gray. The victory offers Tottenham a slender advantage heading into the second leg at Anfield, as they aim for their first silverware since 2008.
The second leg is scheduled for February 6 at Anfield, where Liverpool will look to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes of retaining the League Cup alive.
In the other semi-final, Newcastle United secured a 2-0 away victory against Arsenal, placing them in a favorable position to reach the final.