Another costly refereeing decision led to a controversial winner as Liverpool lost 1-0 to Tottenham in the first of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool
Carabao Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg | Tottenham Hotspur StadiumJanuary 7, 2025
Goal: Bergvall 86′
Against a Liverpool side with only four changes from the weekend, Spurs began with the early momentum, but this was thwarted by a lengthy delay for a worrying head injury for midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
Liverpool’s first real effort of the game came in the 23rd minute – a statistic offset by that lengthy delay – with Mohamed Salah unable to hit the target with a low shot having been set up by Cody Gakpo.
It was soon time for the Reds’ own first-half injury, with Jarell Quansah forced out after a nervy start, with Arne Slot sending on Wataru Endo as he manages Ibrahima Konate‘s game time.
Neither side enjoyed many real chances, though a moment of quality and persistence from Diogo Jota saw Liverpool drive up the pitch in a move that resulted in a dangerous Kostas Tsimikas cross cleared away.
The half ended with Spurs just hanging on, the control shifting decidedly towards the visitors, aided by the composure of Endo at centre-back and the thrust of Conor Bradley at right-back.
HT: Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool
Neither manager opted for any further changes at the break and the landscape of the tie remained the same, though overconfidence from Alisson almost led to a goal for Spurs from Pedro Porro.
Three, likely pre-planned, substitutions came on the hour for Liverpool, with Bradley, Gakpo and Jota coming off and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez sent on.
They gave new energy, particularly Nunez off the ball, and the Reds almost took the lead with a stunning Alexander-Arnold strike blocked on the line by Radu Dragusin.
Liverpool were cut open by a brilliant run from Dominic Solanke, latching onto a through ball and finishing well, but after a lengthy review from VAR Paul Tierney he was adjudged to have been just offside.
Cowardly referee Stuart Attwell then should have sent off midfielder Lucas Bergvall with a second yellow for a clear foul on Tsimikas – but having aoided a decision and, with the left-back off the pitch, the Swede promptly scored the winner.
TIA Man of the Match: Virgil van Dijk
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Tottenham: Kinsky; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur (Johnson 15′), Bergvall; Kulusevski, Son (Werner 73′), Solanke
Subs not used: Austin, Dorrington, Reguilon, Olusesi, Moore, Min-Hyeok, Lankshear
Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Quansah (Endo 30′), Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister (Konate 80′); Salah, Gakpo, Jota
Subs not used: Kelleher, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott, Chiesa, Diaz, Nunez
Next match: Accrington Stanley (H) – FA Cup 3rd Round – Saturday, January 11, 12.15pm (GMT)
