Tottenham edge Liverpool 1-0 to set-up Anfield clash

Lucas Bergvall's late goal earned Tottenham a 1-0 victory with controversy surrounding the decisive moment.

London: 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 86th minute to earn a victory over Liverpool, giving his team a narrow advantage heading into the second leg at Anfield.

The goal came after a controversial incident in which Bergvall’s challenge on Kostas Tsimikas was deemed not worthy of a second yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell. Tsimikas was off the pitch receiving treatment for the challenge when Bergvall struck.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk criticized the decision, saying, "[The ref] made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. It was quite obvious I think... it was a big moment in the game."

The match was a contrast to the teams' last meeting in December, where Liverpool won 6-3 in the Premier League. This game was marked by missed opportunities on both sides, with Pedro Porro missing a key chance for Spurs, while Dominic Solanke had a goal disallowed for offside. Liverpool’s closest effort came when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot was cleared off the line by Radu Dragusin.

Spurs lost Rodrigo Bentancur early in the game after he was stretchered off with a neck brace. The midfielder was later confirmed to be conscious and undergoing further checks in the hospital.

Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, a recent £12.5m signing from Slavia Prague, also played a crucial role. He made several key saves, including a decisive stop in second-half stoppage time to deny Darwin Nunez, contributing to Spurs’ clean sheet.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot fielded a strong lineup including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, but his side struggled to find their rhythm. "I never felt we were going to lose this game,” said the Liverpool Manager after the game. "If you ever have to lose a game it's better when there's still a second leg to be played. It's far from ideal,” he went on to add.

The second leg of the semi-final is scheduled for February 6 at Anfield, with both teams preparing for a closely contested battle to decide who advances to the final at Wembley.