Five things we learned from Tottenham’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur will take a lead to Anfield next month as they look to qualify for the 2025 Carabao Cup Final! Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the match.
A win… and a clean sheet… against Liverpool?
Let us remember that Tottenham came into the match with 10 first-team players missing through injuries and suspensions this evening. Six minutes later, Rodrigo Bentancur had to leave the pitch with a heady injury. Ange Postecoglou only felt like he could use two substitutions and one of those was to replace Bentancur. All of that and the Lilywhites earned a clean sheet and a victory over the league leaders – and boy, did they earn it?!
Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin were imperious at the back, Djed Spence was a superb driving force, and Pedro Porro’s raking long-range passes created two goals (albeit one offside). Yves Bissouma won the midfield battle in trying circumstances and Lucas Bergvall grabbed his first goal for the club. Dominic Solanke was also incredible at dragging Spurs up the pitch once again tonight. Who would have thought, on a night when Sonny and Kulusevski were both quiet, Tottenham would walk away with a win?
It’s only half-time in Tottenham vs Liverpool
Sorry to be that boring person at the party, but it is only half-time. Tottenham still need to go to Anfield and get a result to make it through to the final. That being said, there is a chance that most of those 10 missing players will be back by then so this still feels like a huge result for Spurs and Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham issue Rodrigo Bentancur news
Tottenham tweeted at half-time that Rodrigo Bentancur was conscious and talking, and would head to hospital for further checks. This came after the Spurs midfielder appeared to go for a diving header in Liverpool’s box before crashing down onto the turf and picking up some kind of head injury. His Tottenham teammates immediately called for medics to rush onto the pitch and they tended to him for the next 10 minutes before giving him oxygen and stretchering him off. We at The Spurs Web would like to wish Rodrigo a speedy recovery!
Early debut for Antonin Kinsky
Just three days after joining the club, Antonin Kinsky made his debut for Tottenham against league leaders Liverpool in a cup semi-final. Talk about throwing a 21-year-old in at the deep end! In truth, Kinsky looked as though he had been in that team for years.
His passing out from the back was confident and had the quality to back it up. He even made a few important stops to earn his debut clean sheet. Early impressions indicate that he is a character willing to take on the pressure and make some big decisions – and Tottenham need that. You can see why Spurs moved early to get him in January.
Lucas Bergvall coming of age
This could be the night that Lucas Bergvall truly arrived at Tottenham Hotspur. Yes, he probably could have seen red before he popped up with the winner, but it’s about time Spurs had a bit of luck this season. The teenager was so full of running throughout the game – summed up by the moment in which he nicked the ball off the toe of Alisson and gave Pedro Porro what should have been a simple goal.
Somehow, despite covering every blade of grass, Lucas grew into the game as the Liverpool players around him fatigued. Then, in the 86th minute, breaking his neck to get up and support a Dominic Solanke attack, he rolled home the winner like a seasoned striker. Bergvall is clearly still a raw talent, full of skill and energy on the ball, but in need of education off it. Hopefully, Ange Postecoglou is the perfect educator for him.
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