Spurs youngsters reward Postecoglou faith by bursting Liverpool’s bubble
This was a night for Tottenham Hotspur’s youngsters, the kids in whom head coach Ange Postecoglou has placed so much faith and for whom he has potentially put his reputation on the line. No wonder he joked that he will not be happy if he is not around to see the real fruits of their talents over the coming years.
Tottenham’s two 18-year-old’s, goalscorer Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, were superb on a huge night for the club, while 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky kept the home side’s first clean sheet in six games against a team who had smashed six goals past them a few weeks ago.
On so many occasions, Spurs have looked towards Heung Min-Son and Dejan Kulusevski for inspiration. But on a quiet night for the pair, the kids came to the fore and made sure Tottenham will go to Anfield for the second leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final tie with a lead.
“Name me another Premier League team that’s got two 18-year-olds and one playing out of position consistently,” beamed Postecoglou. “I’m so happy they’re at our football club and you know, in two or three years’ time, I just pray to God I’m the beneficiary of their talent, mate, because if somebody else is getting it, I won’t be happy.”
Liverpool had legitimate complaints that Bergvall could have been shown a second yellow card and sent off shortly before netting his first Spurs goal, but that should not overshadow his outstanding display.
Bergvall took his goal brilliantly, smashing the ball past Alisson Becker after being teed up by Dominic Solanke and adapted without any problem after Rodrigo Bentancur had collapsed early in the game and had to be replaced.
The enforced early reshuffle meant that Bergvall went from playing as a number 10 behind Solanke to reverting to more of an eight, but he took to his change of position like a duck to water.
Tottenham’s Swedish teenager had taken some time to get up to speed in England in the early weeks of the season, but is now showing off his supreme talent that prompted the London club to move so decisively ahead of Barcelona for him.
Bergvall was booked for a late challenge in front of Postecoglou on Liverpool substitute Luis Diaz and could have earned another booking for wiping out Kostas Tsimikas, who was waiting to re-enter the pitch when he scored.
The goal came in the 86th minute and angered Liverpool, but Bergvall and Tottenham could not have cared less. Postecoglou had been outraged by Newcastle United’s equaliser at the weekend and he will feel that he and his team were due a decision in their favour.
It was Bergvall who was responsible for earning Tottenham a chance that Postecoglou could not believe they did not take shortly after half-time.
He closed down Alisson not just once but twice and prompted the Liverpool goalkeeper to pass the ball straight to Pedro Porro. His first shot was blocked by Virgil van Dijk and his second, without anybody in his way, floated wide of the post.
Liverpool had beaten Tottenham 6-3 just before Christmas. Gray and Tottenham’s other defenders from that day could have been forgiven for having nightmares about the possibility of another thrashing, but they responded strongly.
"An incredible time to score your first goal for the club!" 🎙
Lucas Bergvall puts Spurs in front on the 85-minute mark of the first leg! 💥 pic.twitter.com/QjqvSXZohs— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
Gray joined Spurs as a midfielder who could play at full-back. He has been asked to play centre-back during Tottenham’s injury crisis and this was another performance that suggested Spurs have a star on their hands.
It was in the second half, with the game on a knife-edge, that Gray earned an enthusiastic round of applause from Postecoglou. He won the ball back in his own half, advanced past a couple of players and set Kulusevski down the right with a perfect pass.
The move came to nothing, as Kulusevski could not find a team-mate with his cross, but Gray’s contribution was impressive to say the least.
It was not just Gray who was responsible for Tottenham’s rare clean sheet. His partner Radu Dragusin produced a goal-saving block to stop substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pile-driver and Kinsky made some vital saves on his debut.
Postecoglou took a gamble by throwing Kinsky straight in on the back of two training sessions after he joined Tottenham from Slavia Prague on Sunday, but it paid off.
‘I threw him a mammoth task today’
Asked about Kinsky’s performance, Postecoglou said: “Brilliant. Fantastic. I threw him a mammoth task today to play against the best team arguably in the world at the moment, in a big game, a semi-final. He just handled it awfully well. He’s an outstanding footballer.”
There was one nervous moment when Kinsky almost let a Cody Gakpo shot squirm under him, but he reacted by signalling for calm and he did not let it knock his confidence.
Kinsky’s distribution was excellent throughout, but it will be the brilliant reaction save from substitute Darwin Nunez to ensure Tottenham finished the first leg with a lead that will live longest in the memories of the home fans and Postecoglou, who gave him a big hug at the final whistle.
Mohamed Salah had Kinsky diving across his goal with a first-half shot that whistled wide and Liverpool will take heart from the fact that the tie remains finely poised ahead of next month’s second leg, despite a below-par display.
It would have been a bigger advantage for Spurs had Solanke’s goal, which came nine minutes before Bergvall’s winner, not been ruled out for offside. The VAR review was communicated to the crowd by referee Stuart Attwell.
That was a moment of history for the nerds, but the real thrill for Postecoglou and those Spurs fans who love their football in the purest form was the performances of Bergvall, Gray and Kinsky. The kids are all right.
10:59 PM GMT
And finally… here’s Arne Slot
"It had a big influence on the game"
Arne Slot shares his thoughts on whether Lucas Bergvall should have been on the pitch to score the winning goal for Tottenham 💭 pic.twitter.com/LAmHueA8rZ— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
10:45 PM GMT
And here’s the debutant
"I'm a big dreamer... but I have never dreamt this one, amazing" 🤩
Antonin Kinsky on making his Spurs debut against Liverpool just days after joining the club ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/IfH0wGtKPQ— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
10:44 PM GMT
Ange Postecoglou speaks to Sky Sports
I don’t have all the information but my understanding is that Rodrigo is conscious and is being checked over in hospital.
We are having to deal with adversity all the time. This lot is nothing if not resilient.
It’s incredible when you think we have a couple of 18-year-olds out there, a goalkeeper making his debut, a left-back who isn’t a left-back…
It was a big occasion for a young man [Kinsky] against a massive opponent and he handled himself outstandingly.
I’ve seen some real growth that has been hidden by our results.
I thought we deserved it on the night. Fine margins and really pleased the players got the rewards.
If anyone thinks that announcement added anything to the game they’re mistaken [on VAR].
[On the Bergvall ‘card’] We have been asking for two months and we have been told that if advantage is played and it was not a cynical tackle then there is no booking. For me that’s pretty clear. That’s the rules and we’ve had to cop it for the past six weeks.
10:27 PM GMT
Virgil van Dijk speaks to Sky Sports
It was quite obvious that there was going to be a second yellow and there is a coincidence that a minute later he scores the winner. But it is what it is. He made a mistake in my opinion. He thinks he didn’t but it was quite obvious and everyone on the sideline thought it was a yellow.
The fact is he should have been off. There is a linesman, a fourth official and a VAR and he doesn’t get a second yellow.
I’m not saying that is the reason we lost. But it was a big moment in the game. We played against an intense attacking team with good players who can make it difficult and they keep running. We created lots of opportunities but not clear-cut chances in my opinion but still enough to score. But unfortunately we didn’t.
It’s only half-time and I look forward to the match at Anfield.
10:22 PM GMT
Jamie Redknapp and Izzy Christiansen on Sky
Point out that not only was Bergvall allowed to stay on and score moments after he should have been booked, Tsimikas had to go off for a mandatory 30 seconds after being hurt by the foul.
But the referee playing advantage after the ‘foul’ probably saved Bergvall.
10:10 PM GMT
The debutant
Antonin Kinsky goes into the crowd at the end of the match to hug either his partner or his sister. He looks choked as much as chuffed.
10:07 PM GMT
Full time: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Virgil van Dijk goes straight over to Stuart Attwell at the end to question Bergvall’s presence on the pitch to score the winner but all in seemingly decent humour. As is Slot when he shakes the officials’ hands.
10:05 PM GMT
90+7 min: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool corner on the right after Alexander-Arnold’s attempt to find Salah was turned behind by Spence. Tottenham win the first header at the corner and Bergvall the second when the right-back plays it back in. They’re checking for a penalty for Kulusevski catching Nunez. But the onfield decision stands.
10:03 PM GMT
90+6 min: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Solanke uses his strength and nous on the left to earn a free-kick.
10:03 PM GMT
90+4 min: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Jones runs down the left and feeds Diaz who shapes a cross with the outside of his right that shapes away from goal. Nunez throws his feet at the ball and manages to hook it while horizontal, flicking it with his left. It was either on target to creep in or hit the post but Kinsky got down to slap it behind.
I wasn’t Slot who was booked, apologies, but his assistant, Spike Hulshoff.
10:00 PM GMT
90+2 min: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Excellent cross from Alexander-Arnold from the right, bent round four Spurs defenders until Porro, the last man, thwarted Diaz at the back post. Should have been a corner but the ref gives a goal-kick and Slot starts chelping again.
09:58 PM GMT
90 min: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool will have seven minutes to equalise.
09:57 PM GMT
88 min: Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0
Well, well, well. Liverpool haven’t been themselves at all but you can understand their frustration – the foul on Tsimikas deserved a booking but his first, for which he was yellow carded, did not. And yet that should not have had any impact on the second decision. Two wrongs...
09:52 PM GMT
GOAL!
Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0 (Bergvall) Liverpool go potty because they feel he should have been sent off for that foul on Tsimikas. They go so potty that Slot is booked.
Porro fired a long diagonal up the middle from the right, 50 yards or more. Solanke took it in his stride, tacked to the right of the box, held off Konate and laid it back to Bergvall who swept a right-foot shot low into the bottom right corner.
"An incredible time to score your first goal for the club!" 🎙
Lucas Bergvall puts Spurs in front on the 85-minute mark of the first leg! 💥 pic.twitter.com/QjqvSXZohs— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
09:52 PM GMT
84 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Bergvall, who was booked for not fouling Tsimikas, escapes a second yellow when he does chop the left-back down. Strange world.
09:51 PM GMT
82 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spence and Bergvall combine patiently down the left and when the ball is finally played into the box after threatening to do so four or five times, Werner slips when trying to shoot.
09:49 PM GMT
79 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Konate → Mac Allister.
Gray takes the no-risk approach when confronted by Salah and a ball between the free-scoring forward and his goalkeeper. He takes responsibility and ushers it away from goal.
A moment of history in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium there as referee Stuart Attwell delivered the first in-stadium announcement by a match official in a competitive game. I thought he did a great job. Clear, succinct, on the money. Loved it.
09:46 PM GMT
NO GOAL!
Calm finish from Solanke, drawing Alisson and slotting it from 16 yards but he was a hair’s breadth offside when played through.
Stuart Attwell announces it to the crowd in a calm, muted voice.
Alan Smith says he loves the innovation of refs bridcasting the outcomes.
Solanke scores for Tottenham but as the referee announces to the stadium, it's ruled out for offside! ❌ pic.twitter.com/FqVtHvT23N
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
09:44 PM GMT
The VAR pictures look blurred to me
Whatever happened to HD? Was Alexander-Arnold playing him onside? It’s very tight.
09:43 PM GMT
GOAL!?
Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0 (Solanke) VAR check for offside.
09:43 PM GMT
74 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Werner is Spurs’ equivalent of Nunez and the chaos he often brings. The Germany forward hits the gas to hare away from Alexander-Arnold, bomb towards the box then over hit the last part of his dribble, pushing him so wide he can only shoot into the side netting.
Spurs are having to defend with real grit here and they are doing a genuinely good job of it. Antonin Kinsky has had a very impressive debut in goal, while Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin have been excellent in front of him.
09:41 PM GMT
72 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Werner → Son. Kulusevski gets the armband placed on his biceps in a fatuous anointment ritual that seems to fetishise the captaincy.
09:40 PM GMT
70 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Kinsky is beaten foe the first time by Alexander-Arnold’s purler of a strike from the right but Dragusin was expertly positioned behind him and blocked the shot a few centimetres in front of the line. The rebound effort curls harmlessly the safe side of the left post.
09:38 PM GMT
68 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
‘Spurs are on their way to Wembley, Tottenham, going to do it again’ rings out but just as it gathered momentum Liverpool almost punctured that optimism with a fine cross from Salah to Nunez that only the alertness of Kinsky prevented from reaching its intended target, spreadeagling himself to save.
Diaz was earlier booked for sliding in on Diaz without, I think, catching him.
09:35 PM GMT
66 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Jones,out on the right, bludgeons a pass through Dragusin’s legs to Diaz who cannot find the space required to test Kinsky.
09:32 PM GMT
64 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Touch of class from Archie Gray under pressure to play Kulusevski in down the right. An old head on young shoulders and, as Simon Clifford, his boyhood coach has always known, destined for the very top.
09:31 PM GMT
62 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Van Dijk seems to foul Solanke quite heavily but isn’t censured. Tsimikas bends in a terrific cross from the left for Nunez who gives Kinsky catching practice.
Re: our previous post about the Liverpool fans singing Conor Bradley’s name and it being a possible message... Well, they are now singing Alexander-Arnold’s name at full volume in the away end.
09:29 PM GMT
60 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Triple Liverpool substitution:
Alexander-Arnold → Bradley
Diaz → Gakpo
Nunez → Jota.
09:27 PM GMT
59 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Mo Salah cuts in from the right after being sent on his way by a crunching, possibly illegal Bradley tackle on Son. Salah whips a shot towards the back post and Kinsky backpedals and, wary of going behind his line, pats it down from over his head and takes it second time round.
Such was Ange Postecoglou’s disbelief at Porro’s failure to score there, he literally fell to his knees and pounded the turf. These are moments of high stress. He’s not the first Spurs manager to find the quest for trophies to be a source of extreme angst.
Meanwhile, Arne Slot has called Trent Alexander-Arnold over for a little chat on the touchline. He’s pointing at the pitch and clearly issuing some tactical instructions. Expect to see him very soon.
09:25 PM GMT
56 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Comedy of errors as Spurs waste a gilded opportunity after Alisson takes a back-pass under pressure from Bergvall. Alisson took a touch, air-kicked at his pass as Bergvall slid in and was tackled by the Swedish midfielder who bounded quickly back to his feet and blindsided Alisson. The tackle knocked the ball to the 18 yard line and Porro’s shot, bound for an otherwise empty net, hit Van Dojk and came straight back to him. His second attempt prompts Postecoglou to tear at his hair when he screws a right-foot shot wide of the left post.
09:21 PM GMT
54 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spence drives up the left, dribbling 20 yards exclusively with his right foot before picking out a pass to Son who crosses it to close to the keeper. A solitary voice in the crowd bellows out ‘Alisson’ sing-song fashion sracastically.
09:19 PM GMT
52 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Rapid break from Liverpool and they flood the penalty area with red shirts as Salah arcs over a deep cross from the right. Gakpo had timed his run perfectly but the ball parted his hair as he leapt and turned to watch as it sailed out of play beyond the far post
09:16 PM GMT
50 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Jota shoves Spence over on halfway and this time Spurs are awarded the free-kick they feel they deserve. But then give the ball straight back to Liverpool.
09:15 PM GMT
48 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Johnson skitters down the right, tries to outpace Van Dijk and hits the deck winded as Van Djk scoots off with the ball. Was there a tap to the solar plexus from the canny Van Dijk? Perish the thought.
09:13 PM GMT
46 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
The game resumes with no further changes to the XIs. Bissouma makes a promising run down the right at speed but loses his footing, stumbles and knocks the ball out under pressure from Tsimikas.
09:08 PM GMT
Better news about Bentancur
We can confirm Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025
09:02 PM GMT
Bentancur update
He is in the dressing room and being attended to by doctors. No further information is currently available.
08:58 PM GMT
Half-time: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
A marathon first half ends having given us few clear-cut chances but more promising positions which needed more poise and precision in the finishing.
08:57 PM GMT
45+10 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Brave work from Porro to hold off Jota and shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, going over and rolling into advertising board once he’d been pushed over the line.
08:56 PM GMT
45+9 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spence and Kulusevski combine to send Son down the left, the final pass from the stand-in left-back forcing his captain too wide. No chance of sprinting into the area now, he takes it down the line instead and arcs a deep cross that Bergvall can only head upwards and the ball gently loops into Alisson’s arms. Bergvall needed a proper run at that but it was right on top of him.
08:53 PM GMT
45+7 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Gakpo shuffles in from the left, played in when Mac Allister drops his shoulder, turns and strikes a clever pass. Gakpo goes for the full Thierry Henry, a right-foot beauty into the top right corner but cannot get it to bend back in on goal and it sails behind.
The Liverpool fans are singing the name of Conor Bradley. Is that a message to Trent Alexander-Arnold after his tumultuous week? Or would that be reading too much into it. Any travelling Liverpool fans who happen to be logging in, please let us know.
08:51 PM GMT
45+5 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Gakpo charges through down the inside right and cuts the laces of his right boot across a shot that makes it swerve and dip menacingly but Kinsky dives forward with his knees tucked up as secondary cover and catches it at the second attempt.
08:49 PM GMT
45+3 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Gakpo accelerates on to a long diagonal, faces up Porro, darts inside to the byline then pulls back a pass to Salah with the outside of his right boot. Salah takes a touch by the penalty spot, tries to set his feet to hit a shot but the delay allows Spurs to throw bodies in the line of fire and make the block.
08:47 PM GMT
45+1 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
As the ball comes out from Bergvall, Kulusevski swipes at Mac Allister’s ankles and concedes a free-kick 30 yards out that comes to naught.
Eleven minutes of injury time for Bentancur and Quansah are signalled on the board.
08:45 PM GMT
44 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Jota nutmegs Bissouma on the right inside the Liverpool half and dribbles forward to play Salah inside on a forward run. The right-winger ploughs on infield and slips a pass to Gakpo who knocks it down the line for Tsimikas to pull back between six-yard box and penalty spot. Bergvall slides in to stop it reaching Jones.
08:43 PM GMT
42 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Endo sprays a crossfield pass intended for Gakpo out for a Spurs throw-in. Mac Allister is not involved enough for Liverpool yet.
Arne Slot was not happy with Diogo Jota’s overhit pass there, which ruined a promising Liverpool counter-attack. The away side are not quite flowing as you might have expected. It is certainly an entirely different game to the recent league meeting between these two. Spurs are competing well.
08:41 PM GMT
40 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Johnson’s storming tackle on halfway ignites the home fans momentarily.
08:40 PM GMT
39 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spence stops Bradley as the right-back tries to drive down the wing. Spence has had nine more touches than any other player according to Sky and is playing well.
08:37 PM GMT
37 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Good work by Dragusin to move the ball upfield quickly after Gray dispossessed Jota. But Solanke’s pass up the right wing was behind Johnson and Liverpool win it back.
08:35 PM GMT
35 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Pretty drab match so far not helped by the two lengthy stoppages.
Bentancur’s injury seems to have triggered a change of shape for Spurs, who started this game with two holding players but now have only one. Yves Bissouma is patrolling the base of the midfield on his own, with Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski playing in more advanced positions higher up the pitch.
08:34 PM GMT
33 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Tsimikas whips the free-kick into the area and Mac Allister meets it…meekly and nods it straight at Kinsky.
08:33 PM GMT
31 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Bergvall can’t work his way out of a tight spot by the right touchline on halfway. Liverpool throw it backwards to go forwards and Bissouma twice tries to foul Jota as he runs through the inside-left, succeeding at the secodn attempt by sticking his leg across his run.
Liverpool free-kick 35 yards out.
08:30 PM GMT
29 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Quansah cannot continue:
Endo → Qaunsah.
Endo isn’t a defender by trade but he is wearing the No 3 shirt.
08:28 PM GMT
28 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Now Jarell Quansah is down with an injury and there’s another delay. He is holding his right calf/shin.
08:27 PM GMT
26 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Both sides have been curiously careless with possession.
It seems like Bentancur hit the ground head first when he went for a header.
Special mention must go to Spurs full-back Pedro Porro, who was the first to react when Bentancur went down. Porro seemed to be trying to ensure that his team-mate had not swallowed his tongue. Incredible quick-thinking in the heat of a ferocious match.
08:25 PM GMT
23 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool target the space behind the marauding Porro again and pick out Gakpo who cushions the pass, brings it inside, looks certain to shoot but instead defers to Salah with a pass inside and he sweeps a shot wide of the right post.
08:23 PM GMT
21 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spurs work the throw-in to Bergvall who tries to pick out Solanke but they are not on the same wavelength. Liverpool keep giving the ball away and Tottenham accept the invitation as Porro drives infield to pass to Son who sprints down the left of the box to whip a cross to the near post to meet Solanke’s run. The centre-forward needs only a tickle of a touch to have any chance of diverting it in from a very tight angle but gets too much on it and it spoons up on to his knee and out for a goal-kick.
08:20 PM GMT
19 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spence has a couple of chances to cross with his left foot but checks back inside to a couple of groans. Gakpo, on the other wing, drops back to stop Johnson linking up with Porro and puts the ball out for a throw.
08:19 PM GMT
17 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Spence blocks Salah’s left-foot cross from the right out for a throw-in. The long delay has killed the crowd’s raucous atmosphere and it will take a while for players and supporters to warm up.
Kinsky takes the ball confidently under pressure from Jota.
08:16 PM GMT
16 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Just over nine minutes after Bentancur was injured, the match resumes with a corner that Son bends straight down Alisson’s throat.
Spurs sub:
Johnson → Bentancur.
08:15 PM GMT
15 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
This will not be a concussion substitution, we are informed and he did seem to go down without opposition contact. So it’s a but of a mystery as Sky, wisely, discreetly, have not shown a replay of the incident.
08:14 PM GMT
13 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
All the noise suddenly drained from this stadium as soon as it became clear that something serious had happened in the penalty box. The reaction of the players is the most telling thing and they all looked genuinely concerned, with Liverpool’s defenders immediately calling for medical attention.
08:11 PM GMT
11 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
The players are jogging and jigging to keep warm as Bentancur is moved to the stretcher.
Spurs are cursed.
08:11 PM GMT
9 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Bentancur continues to receive treatment but he was sitting up momentarily before being told to lie back down by the medics. The game will restart with a Tottenham corner after Alisson turned Dragusin’s shot from 12 yards behind.
Brennan Johnson is warming up which will have repercussions for the formation. Spurs started with a 4-3-3 but may now switch back to 4-2-3-1.
08:07 PM GMT
7 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Bergvall drives up the inside-right and catches the Liverpool defence on the back foot. It earns the home side a corner that goes long to the left of the D and when Son plays it back in Dragusin side-foots a shot straight at Alisson.
The game is stopped as Bentancur’s attempt at a diving near-post header ends with him pole-axed and no replay as the medical staff run on.
08:05 PM GMT
5 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Slight discomfort in the Liverpool box when Tsimikas and Kulusevski clash on the Spurs right and Van Dijk was expecting the ball to be played to Alisson not him. But they scramble it clear.
08:04 PM GMT
3 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
Jones picks off a Bentancur header, feints, shimmies and passes short to Salah who fires a 60-yard diagonal for Gakpo to take in his stride. But Porro marshals him well, shepherds him back towards the middle where there’s cover and it’smission accomplished when Gakpo’s cross sails out. Kinsky’s first goal-kick is a solid one.
08:01 PM GMT
1 min: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0
The kazoo version of When the Spurs Go Marching In resounds around the stadium as the teams break from their huddles to take their places. Spurs kick off, attacking from right to left and have a free-kick within seconds after swiping a pass straight at Bradley. Spence tries a long pass with the outside of his right boot that bends in from the left touchline for Son to chase but he puts too much on it and Alisson comes out to sweep up.
07:57 PM GMT
Out come the teams
Both sides in their home strips, Tottenham in white and navy, Liverpool in red.
07:56 PM GMT
MC Attwell
Let us not forget that in-stadium announcements of video assistant referee decisions will be used in England for the first time in these Carabao Cup semi-finals. There wasn’t one last night so all eyes (and ears) on Stuart Attwell.
07:53 PM GMT
Out of the mouths of babes…
One from a very lively bunch of Spurs mascots said to Virgil van Dijk, why don’t you come to Spurs we don’t have any defenders.
Spurs mascot to Virgil Van Dijk:
"Come join Tottenham, we haven't got any defenders!" 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/o8xbToJWZn— HotspurReports. (@hotspurreports) January 8, 2025
07:44 PM GMT
Arne Slot speaks to Sky Sports
Some players have played many minutes because some players have been injured. Trent and Robbo have played many minutes because Conor and Kostas have been injured [so that’s why they’re out tonight].
We are still three games away from a trophy here, more games away in the Champions League and many more in the Premier League [so we’re not counting any chickens]. We played quite well on Sunday, not our best but not as bad as some people made of it.
But we want to do better because we are used to winning and that’s not what we did on Sunday.
07:41 PM GMT
On the bench
Trent Alexander-Arnold drops out of the starting line-up but there’s not much subtext to that, I think. Yes, he had a poor game on Sunday but he has played only 45 minutes in this competition this season and Conor Bradley has played these games when fit.
07:36 PM GMT
The new keeper
The 6ft 3in 21-year-old spent the last two seasons out on loan from Slavia Prague and only made his breakthrough for his parent club this season.
He inherits the legendary No 31 shirt made famous by Luke McGee, Dean Marney and Alton Thelwell.
07:28 PM GMT
Ange Postecoglou stands his ground
It’s fair to say this is the worst run of injuries I’ve encountered in my career where we’re in this never-ending cycle of impediments.
Results-wise I’ve had pretty poor runs of results but not exacerbated by [so many injuries].
If I can navigate through this and somehow survive I know [we will be stronger and can survive anything].
They’re the best team in the world and I think that the opportunity for us to do something. To clear the storm around us, to win a game like this against Liverpool even though there’s a second leg [is the chance you want so there’s nothing to be daunted about].
I want us to be a team that goes into every game wanting to be the aggressor, the protagonist with and without the ball. I want us to be exciting, score goals and win games. [Of course] I care about defence, I care about it all but I can’t be a manager who wants to watch his team defend 1-0 for 80 minutes.
Having seen managers who do play like that [not being told to change] but I’m expected to temper my [vision], I’m not going to do that.
If you weld yourselves to the result you’ll go mad and never achieve anything. To turn anocean liner takes along time and sometimes the people on deck don’t realise it’s turning. But we are turning, we are heading in the right direction and maybe I’m the only one who can see that at the moment.
07:19 PM GMT
Like father, like son
The big team news at the (very cold) Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is that new Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is starting between the posts. Kinsky only signed a few days ago, in a £12.5 million move from Slavia Prague. The 21-year-old is from strong goalkeeping stock: his father, also Antonin Kinsky, spent his career in the Czech and Russian leagues and represented his country on a few occasions.
07:17 PM GMT
Djed Spence speaks to Sky Sports
I’m happy that I’ve got my opportunity and I think I’m doing well and I’m just happy to be part of the team. The boys are really ready for the challenge and get an edge going into the second game. They’re a good side with good attacking players and score goals but we do as well so I’m expecting a good game.
Not very enlightening but who is these days in these pre-match ‘stop-and-chats’?
07:10 PM GMT
Your teams in black and white
Tottenham Hotspur Kinksy; Pedro Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.
Substitutes Austin, Dorrington, Johnson, Lankshear, Moore, Olusesi, Reguilón, Werner, Yang Min-hyuk.
Liverpool Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Gakpo.
Substitutes Kelleher, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Endo, Konate, Chiesa, Elliott, Diaz, Nunez.
Referee Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)
07:03 PM GMT
Liverpool make four changes
Tonight's Reds to take on Spurs in the #CarabaoCup 👊🔴 #TOTLIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 8, 2025
Bradley, Tsimikas, Quansah and Jota replace Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Konaté and Díaz.
07:02 PM GMT
Kinsky makes debut in goal
Tonight's Spurs XI ✊
🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/he2Umw46Vr— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025
Bentancur replaces Sarr and Son is back in for Werner, too. Poor Brandon Austin, man of the match on debut and may never play for Spurs again.
07:01 PM GMT
If it’s the Carabao Cup
That means it’s s run out for Mark ‘Chappers’ Chapman on Sky Sports. Staff job, eh? Freelance is all the rage for elite presenters.
07:00 PM GMT
Tottenham’s centre-backs
I thought Djed Spence did OK alongside Archie Gray in the second half against Newcastle but if Radu Dragusin is fit surely he comes straight back in?
06:54 PM GMT
Strongest possible teams?
With Spurs playing Tamworth in the FA Cup on Sunday and Liverpool taking on Accrington Stanley on Saturday, one would think both would go for it tonight.
05:25 PM GMT
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05:24 PM GMT
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05:21 PM GMT
Preview: Casualty
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of the first leg of the League/ Milk/ Littlewoods/ Rumbelows/ Coca Cola/ Worthington’s/ Carling/ Capital One/ Carabao Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur, chasing their first trophy since 2008 and Liverpool, defending the trophy they won last year. Liverpool, the Premier and Champions League leaders, have lost only one competitive match this season, and although they come into the game on the back of their lukewarm performance in the draw with Manchester United on Sunday, they do so as overwhelming favourites against a Spurs side who conquered Man City and United in the previous two rounds of this competition but have lost five of their last seven in the league and have not so much an injury crisis as a scene from Saving Private Ryan ravaging their squad.
Current patients in their Enfield M*A*S*H/treatment room include Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Mick van de Ven (ie four-fifths of their first-choice back four and keeper unit) plus Ben Davies, Fraser Forster, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Mikey Moore. While Forster could possibly return tonight, the understudy’s understudy, Brandon Austin, did so well against Newcastle on Saturday that goalkeeper is the least of Ange Postecoglou’s worries tonight given the casualties in defence are joined on the sidelines by the suspended Pape Sarr and James Maddison.
Postecoglou, increasingly ratty as his certainty in his methods is questioned but not dented by repeated punches in the face in terms of results and goals conceded, said yesterday that merely making it to Wembley would be a triumph in itself: “If we get to a final and happen to win a trophy, we’ll look back on this period of where we are, a small group of players having to rise above and beyond to get there. I think that would be as worthy of the achievement as actually winning it.” Given the amount of criticism and vitriol over his tactics and their durability, I’m not so sure.
As for Liverpool, who have won two of the last three finals and 10 League Cups in all, they return to Tottenham Hostpur where they were 5-1 up and eventually won 6-3 19 days ago in rude health with only Joe Gomez definitely out and a doubt over Dominik Szoboszlai who was ill on Sunday.
