Snatching a late controversial winner on Thursday evening, Tottenham secured a slender EFL Cup benefit as they clinched a 1-0 victory towards Liverpool in north London.
Whereas England worldwide Dominic Solanke might need seen his late strike narrowly dominated out by VAR, Lucas Bergvall managed to seize what was a controversial winner in N17.
Slotting residence and handing Ange Postecoglou’s facet a shock benefit, Liverpool have been left livid that the Swedish teenager was not proven a second yellow card following a slipshod foul on Kostas Tsimikas.
Though second-half substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold might need seen his pushed strike cleared off the road by Radu Dragusin, the Premier League leaders failed to search out any actual fluidity within the remaining third.
With their EFL Cup ambitions taking a minor dent right here, Liverpool will welcome Tottenham to Anfield for his or her second-leg battle on February sixth.
On an evening when Tottenham moved themselves inside 90 minuets of reserving a visit to Wembley, we have now taken a take a look at the principle speaking factors.
Postecoglou will get the response he was dreaming of
Struggling one other collapse in north London final weekend as they opened the New 12 months with a 2-1 defeat by the hands of Newcastle, it’s no secret that Postecoglou has come underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny.
Solely amassing a single level from any of their earlier 4 Premier League appearances, some sections of the Spurs assist have grow to be annoyed with the previous Celtic boss.
Nevertheless, though Tottenham may nonetheless be scrapping it out within the bottom-half of the Premier League desk, Wednesday’s hosts should use their gritty efficiency right here as a platform to construct on.
Accumulating back-to-back victories throughout any competitors on only a single event since coming back from November’s worldwide break, Spurs are crying out for some essential stability going ahead.
Holding a slender benefit after they journey to Anfield subsequent month for his or her second-leg showdown, Tottenham will likely be trying to keep away from what can be an notorious FA Cup banana pores and skin after they journey to fifth-tier outfit Tamworth this weekend.
Liverpool put themselves at a drawback
Finally pressured to accept an action-packed 2-2 stalemate at residence towards historic rivals Manchester United final weekend, Liverpool travelled to north London searching for a direct response.
Nevertheless, whereas Arne Slot’s males might need opened Thursday’s showdown trying to lay down one other home marker, the Reds will likely be ruing a missed alternative.
Struggling only a second defeat of the season throughout any competitors right here, Liverpool will likely be trying to show that their downbeat show within the capital was northing greater than a minor blip.
Whereas Slot’s facet may nonetheless maintain a commanding six-point buffer on the prime of the Premier League desk, Liverpool are searching for some latest defensive metal.
Claiming what was a exceptional 6-3 victory after they travelled to Spurs again on December twenty second, the Reds have recorded only a single clear sheet from any of their final seven appearances throughout all competitions.
Solanke shines once more in north London
Whereas the record-breaking Mohamed Salah might need stolen loads of the putting headlines heading into Thursday’s showdown, it was Tottenham’s latest quantity 9 who proved to be the distinction right here.
Though Solanke might need seen his late strike dominated out by VAR simply moments earlier than Bergvall’s winner, the England worldwide completed one other stellar job of main Tottenham’s cost.
Whereas there might need been loads of eyebrows raised following Solanke’s £65million transfer from Bournemouth final summer time, the one-time Chelsea teenager seems to be relishing life again within the capital.
Producing the help for Bergvall’s late winner and persevering with to cement his spot as a fan favorite in north London, Solanke clearly has a number one function to play given Tottenham’s harm disaster.
Bagging a comfort strike at residence towards Newcastle final weekend, the 27-year-old has recorded 10 direct objective contributions to date this season and is repaying the hefty switch charge that Spurs splashed out final summer time.
Match Report
Tottenham: Kinsky, Porro, Dragusin, Grey, Spence, Bissouma, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kulusevski, Son, Solanke
Subs: Johnson, Werner
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Quansah, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Gakpo, Salah, Jota
Subs: Konate, Endo, Nunez, Alexander-Arnold, Diaz
Targets: Bergvall (86’)
Yellow Playing cards: Bissouma, Bergvall
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Stuart Attwell
