It's advantage Spurs as Bergvall's late goal gives them edge over Liverpool
Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
Tottenham (1) 1 Bergvall 86
Liverpool (0) 0
Lucas Bergvall's first Tottenham goal five minutes from time has given Spurs a fighting chance of getting to Wembley and grabbing that first trophy since 2008.
In a pulsating game that captivated, the Swede's superb all-round display - surely his best for the club so far - means a precious lead will be taken to Anfield for next month's semi-final second leg.
The elated goalscorer was maybe lucky to be on the field for his magic moment as he ought to have picked up a second yellow for a touchline foul on Kostas Tsimikas that went unpunished.
It was all a far cry from the recent 6-3 drubbing inflicted by the Reds when the sides met in a Premier League clash in these parts a few weeks ago. Spurs showed no inferiority complex, playing with urgency and intent and overcame a worrying start to the contest in which Rodrigo Bentancur collapsed.
The sight of Bentancur prone and motionless on the turf was a huge worry and coming so early in the game, it initially deflated the sense of excitement and expectation.
There had already been a good chance for Spurs, with Radu Dragusin forcing Alisson into a sharp low save but within seconds that had suddenly paled into insignificance.
Play was halted for a good 10 minutes while medics attended to the stricken Uruguayan before taking him away on a stretcher. Brennan Johnson came on, with Dejan Kulusevski dropping back into midfield.
And the stop-start nature of the contest was not helped by Liverpool also losing a player to injury - Jarell Quansah departing after half an hour.
At least Spurs manged to shake off the concerns for their team-mate, with Heung-Min Son almost finding Dominic Solanke a few yards out and they managed to do a better job of protecting their goal than they did in that recent 6-3 shellacking.
It was just as well, because Ange Postecoglou handed a debut to new signing Antonin Kinsky - the keeper taking over from Brandon Austin, even though Fraser Forster's stand-in had not done too badly in Saturday's defeat to Newcastle.
The 21-year-old Czech Kinsky - brought in from Slavia Prague for £12.5 - was eager to make an impression, but being pitched in at the deep end like this, he didn't want to find himself over-exposed on his first outing. He reacted well to keep out Darwin Nunez and looked pretty sound overall. He also made a late reflex save to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Spurs looked sharper than the visitors and as Alisson dawdled, a lively Bergvall pounced to nick the ball off him and lay off for Pedro Porro to try twice to find the net. The Spaniard really ought to have put it away - having his first shot blocked by Virgil van Dijk before chipping the rebound wide.
Postecoglou collapsed to the turf in despair and frustration. Big Ange is suffering all kinds of emotions right now.
The hosts were having slightly the better of it but those Liverpool counter-attacks still carried menace and sub Trent Alexander-Arnold's powerful strike from 18 yards needed Dragusin's goal-line clearance to keep the scoreline at 0-0.
Then came the night's big finale
First, Solanke raced through onto a beautiful pass from Porro and tucked it away expertly. Alas for Spurs, VAR is used in the semi-finals of the League Cup, unlike previous rounds, and an offside call came from the Stockley Park bunker.
But 10 minutes later, Bergvall swept in his first goal for the club after great work from Solanke to crown a great night for him and his team.
Spurs: (4-3-3) Kinsky - Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence - Bissouma, Bentancur (Johnson 15), Bergvall - Kulusevski, Solanke, Son (Werner 72)
Reds: (4-2-3-1) Alisson - Bradley (Alexander-Arnold 60), Quansah (Endo 30), van Dijk , Tsimikas - Gravenberch, Mac Allister (Konte 80) - Salah, Jones, Gakpo (Diaz 60) - Jota (Nunez 60)
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