Bergvall and Spurs showing ability and resilience for Postecoglou with possible cup glory on the horizon
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Liverpool 0
'Time to rise'
The shiny marketing slogan around the glitz of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a portent of what was to follow.
After a series of disappointments and questions over his capacity as Spurs boss, Ange Postecoglou is a more satisfied figure.
Sitting twelfth in the Premier League is quite a concern for the north London faithful - but this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg victory over Liverpool may prove to be just the boost injury-hit Tottenham need going into the second half of the season.
Lucas Bergvall slammed home the only goal of the night to sink the Reds with just four minutes remaining. The Swede's strike gives hope that Tottenham can become sufficiently resilient when the return leg rolls around next month.
A lot of football is still to be played before then with Postecoglou's side in action in the league, FA Cup and Europa League, before the trip to Anfield. Rodrigo Bentancur's early injury - the midfielder received extensive on field treatment before leaving the pitch early on - is another problem for Postecoglou.
As for the night itself, Tottenham gave a far better account of themselves here as opposed to their 6-3 loss against Arne Slots' outfit just before Christmas. How Postecoglou needed this boost.
At one point, the Greek-Australian was on his knees, watching in agony after Pedro Porro's effort went agonisingly wide in 55 minutes when Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker made an unholy mess of possession. Eighteen year old Bergvall's first goal for Spurs subsequently garnered real praise from the man whose opinion counts.
'Brilliant'
"He (Bergvall) handled the occasion really well against probably the best team in the world," said Postecoglou.
"Liverpool were able to put out really good footballers. Lucas was brilliant.
"He is just growing all the time. He’s got that ability as a footballer to create space for himself. He’s got the quality, but he works awfully hard for the team as well.”
Bergvall's impressive finish was timely for Tottenham on a nervy night - ten minutes earlier, Dominic Solanke had an effort ruled out by VAR.
Shortly afterwards the Tottenham fans were singing the praises of Postecoglou, who tends to attract mixed feelings.
Liverpool had enjoyed their visits to London of late - the Merseysiders had not lost to a capital side across 11 meetings. Slot fielded a strong line up for this semi-final tie, perhaps mindful of their recent romp over Spurs. Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley was in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, following the latter's perceived below par performance in the weekend draw with Manchester United.
Tottenham, with just one point from their previous four games, gave a debut to new Czech keeper Antonin Kinsky, who was excellent and showed no sign of nerves.
However just a few minutes in, Bentancur suffered a knock inside the Liverpool penalty area and play was stopped for almost ten minutes with the midfielder receiving intense medical attention. Bentancur was eventually replaced by Brennan Johnson.
It is yet another injury blow for Postecoglou to contend with, the Spurs chief already operating with a makeshift rear guard and Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Dewstiny Udogie and Ben Davies, for instance, all out of action.
The majority of the first half was tepid, in contrast to the previous meetings when Slot's Reds steamrollered Spurs. As competitive as it was, touches, passes and half chances were loose from both teams.
Liverpool at least tested Kinsky when Cody Gakpo rifled a long range effort which the Spurs debutant did well to hold. Still, the hosts struggled to gain any traction for long spells and Heung-Min Son in particular suffered a lack of service from his team mates. Tottenham were not to be deterred.
Opportunity
Liverpool's surprising lack of incision was encapsulated in 68 minutes when an opportunity presented itself to Darwin Nunez, only for the substitute to be denied by confident Kinsky.
Something did stir in the visitors' ranks, though, and Dragusin was forced to clear a raking drive by another Liverpool substitute, Alexander-Arnold, off the line.
And when Solanke had the ball in the Liverpool net in 77 minutes only for his effort to be ruled out by VAR, it rather summed up Tottenham's ongoing frustrations. The striker made his run a fraction too early fastening on to Porro's through ball.
At some point those same frustrations must end. Bergvall, timing his run perfectly, obliged, drilling the ball under Becker from a route one move and a neat assist by Solanke.
A smart stop by Kinsky to deny Nunez in injury tie denied Liverpool a leveller. Spurs held on to make the return leg all the more enticing with Slot's men expected to turn the screw to retrieve the situation in front of a raucous Anfield crowd. Only time wlll tell if this Tottenham side are equipped to weather the storm.
Slot, meanwhile, remains upbeat. "I didn't feel we were going to lose the game as we had most of the possession in their half," noted the Liverpool manager.
"There is still a second leg to be played. You can always expect a reaction from Spurs as it is a semi final and it is important for their fans. We knew it would not be the same game as before (the 6-3)."
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