Tottenham beat Liverpool in EFL semifinal first leg with Bergvall goal

Lucas Bergvall etched his name into Tottenham Hotspur folklore with a stunning late goal that secured a 1-0 victory over defending champions Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal. The 18-year-old Swede, showcasing poise beyond his years, rifled a brilliant strike past Liverpool’s Alisson in the 86th minute, capping a remarkable night for an injury-stricken Spurs side. Moments earlier, Dominic Solanke’s goal had been ruled out, further fueling the tension in a tightly contested match.

Liverpool, reigning champions after defeating Chelsea in last year’s final to claim their record 10th League Cup, fell short of their usual standards. Their 24-match unbeaten run across all competitions came to an unexpected end, though not without controversy. Bergvall, already on a yellow card, narrowly avoided a second booking after a foul on Kostas Tsimikas moments before his match-winning goal. “He should have been off, it was a big moment,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said, reflecting the visitors’ frustration.

Despite the defeat, Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s side will feel confident heading into the second leg at Anfield, where their exceptional home record makes them formidable opponents. This result marked only their second loss of the season, but the manner of the defeat will sting given their control of possession and the opportunities created.

For Tottenham, this was a night of grit and determination. Ange Postecoglou’s depleted squad, already reeling from a spate of injuries, suffered another blow when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off early in the match after an awkward fall. Yet, the team’s resilience shone through, buoyed by the heroics of Bergvall and a debut performance by goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

Liverpool’s previous visit to Tottenham before Christmas had ended in a dominant 6-3 victory, but on this occasion, they looked unusually lethargic despite dictating the tempo for long stretches. Mohamed Salah, typically a thorn in Spurs’ side, was uncharacteristically subdued. Cody Gakpo came closest for the visitors in the first half, his shot nearly slipping through Kinsky’s grasp, but Tottenham’s defense held firm.

The match began with Spurs carving out the better chances. Radu Dragusin tested Alisson early, and Solanke’s effort from a Son Heung-min cross went agonizingly wide. However, the lengthy stoppage for Bentancur’s injury disrupted the flow, allowing Liverpool to regain their composure. Even so, the visitors struggled to capitalize on their possession dominance, much to the frustration of their supporters.

Alisson had a nervy moment early in the second half, losing the ball to Bergvall, who laid it off to Pedro Porro. The resulting chance saw Porro’s initial shot blocked by van Dijk and his follow-up effort narrowly missing the target. Postecoglou, visibly exasperated on the touchline, dropped to his knees as the golden opportunity went begging.

Liverpool’s best chance came when Trent Alexander-Arnold, introduced as a substitute, had a powerful shot cleared off the line by Dragusin. VAR also denied Solanke’s goal due to an offside call, a decision announced directly to the crowd by referee Stuart Attwell, marking a historic first in English football. However, the controversy surrounding Bergvall’s escape from a second yellow card overshadowed much of the action.

Tottenham’s persistence finally paid off in the dying moments of the game. Solanke, instrumental throughout, set up Bergvall for the decisive strike that sent the home crowd into raptures. The youngster’s finish not only secured a memorable victory but also highlighted why he is considered one of the club’s brightest prospects. In doing so, Bergvall became Spurs’ youngest scorer in the League Cup since Gareth Bale in 2007.

Postecoglou, under pressure after a string of poor results, will take heart from this performance as he looks to lead Tottenham to their first silverware since the 2008 League Cup. The Australian manager’s claim of winning a trophy in his second season at every club remains alive, though the road to Wembley is far from certain. The fans, who had been questioning his tactics and squad depth, sang his name at the final whistle, a testament to the team’s spirited display.

Liverpool’s players, meanwhile, left the pitch with a sense of injustice and determination to set things right at Anfield. With the second leg still to come, Slot’s men will need to regroup and rediscover the clinical edge that has made them one of Europe’s most feared teams this season. The tie remains delicately poised, but Tottenham’s slender advantage has shifted the narrative heading into the decisive encounter.

This week’s other semifinal saw Newcastle United claim a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates, setting up an intriguing second leg as both ties remain finely balanced. For now, the spotlight belongs to Lucas Bergvall, whose moment of magic ensured a night to remember for Spurs fans and added another chapter to the storied rivalry between these two clubs.

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