Liverpool’s 24-match unbeaten run has come to an end in the most unlikely fashion losing 1-0 to Tottenham in the first leg of the EFL Cup semifinal behind a goal from Lucas Bergvall. With the goal, Bergvall has become the youngest player to score for Tottenham in the EFL Cup since Gareth Bale in September of 2007. Chasing their first trophy since winning the EFL Cup in 2008, Ange Postecoglou pulled out all the stops in this one starting new keeper Antonin Kinsky starting only three days after joining from Slavia Prague.
Early on in the game, Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off with an injury but is conscious and communicating, per the club. That led to 11 minutes of
The 21-year-old keeper did a good job protecting his makeshift defense and even the first in-stadium VAR announcement ruled out Dominic Solanke’s goal in the 79th minute for being offside. It’s a match that leaves much to be desired for Liverpool but Tottenham teenagers Archie Gray and Bergvall showed that the future could be bright for a Spurs team aiming for consistency. Liverpool will have plenty of time to make up the one-goal deficit at home but for Tottenham to go toe-to-toe with the Reds was quite a surprise.
History made
Up until this stage of the tournament, there was no VAR in the competition but not only did it come into effect for the semifinals but also for the first time the announcements would be delivered to the entire stadium via the on-field referee. For most of the game, this wasn’t an issue but after Solanke put the ball in the back of the net late, referee Stuart Attwell had to go to the monitor where the goal was judged to be offside. He then went to announce it to more than 50,0000 unhappy Tottenham fans in London.
“We never used to debate offsides, handballs, holding in the box. Did everyone really love the announcement today? Did that give you a real buzz?” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said following the match.
While the transparency is appreciated for the stadium to get information at the same time, Postecoglou has a point in how the game has changed. At the moment, VAR is here to stay and Spurs will go down in history as the first team to be subjected to an in-stadium VAR announcement in English soccer.
A controversial winner
After receiving a yellow card for a challenge earlier in the match, Bergvall could’ve been sent off during the match for a challenge on Konstantinos Tsimikas. When the tackle went in, Liverpool were given an advantage for a period of time but no yellow was issued to Bergvall which would’ve seen him dismissed from the match. When the 18-year-old went on to score his goal, Tsimikas was then off the pitch recovering from the challenge.
“They played an advantage, that’s why it’s not a second yellow,” Postecoglou said about the challenge.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk didn’t agree, believing that Bergvall should’ve been sent off during the controversial moment. While the challenge wasn’t enough to rise to a direct red card, there was enough there that a yellow could’ve been issued. Liverpool will have wanted to produce more in attack but in a balanced game, you never want to see a decision like this one be what made the difference.
“Everyone can make mistakes, but in my opinion, it was quite an obvious one,” Van Dijk said.
In breaking down the match, CBS Sports rules analyst Christina Unkel also agreed with Van Dijk’s assessment.
“That tackle itself doesn’t rise to the level of a direct red card which is only what VAR can check, and because it would’ve just been a yellow card and that’s all the recommendation or the preferred decision would’ve been, VAR can’t intervene,” Unkel said. “So, communication needs to happen between officials on the field and the fourth official that’s sitting right there giving that information to the referee.
“If you’re giving an advantage, you can still come back and give the yellow card and just a heads up it’s a second yellow, red. We understand the gravity of the game and what it means and sometimes as referees, we have the ability to manage the game and maybe manage a situation, but in this one, this is what we call 100% misconduct and a yellow card.”
Based on that recommendation, the goal never should’ve happened, but for Liverpool, their focus is on the second leg. This is in no way an insurmountable advantage, just an unfortunate one when the match could’ve ended with a late Liverpool goal due what should have been a one-man advantage.
Worry for Liverpool?
After dropping points in the league to Manchester United in a poor performance and then following up with one of their worst performances of the season facing Tottenham, it’s a small worry for Arne Slot. Liverpool did create chances, but they didn’t come to Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota due to Tottenham’s defense doing their job. It’s too early to worry about the Reds but with so many games in quick succession, this is a time where if other sides want to push for the title, they need to take advantage of Liverpool being the most vulnerable that they’ve been so far this season. This isn’t a match that may hurt them in the long run but without a victory in their next league match facing Nottingham Forest — the last Premier League team to defeat the Reds — worry may begin to set in.
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