The Carabao Cup semi-final first leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC ended in a nail-biting 1-0 victory for Tottenham. Lucas Bergvall’s late goal in the 86th minute sealed the win for Spurs, but it was the events leading up to the goal that sparked controversy and frustration for Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot.
The match took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Tottenham managed to secure a slender lead ahead of the second leg at Anfield on February 6. The game was tightly contested, with Liverpool dominating possession and creating more chances, but failing to convert them.
The turning point came when Lucas Bergvall, already on a yellow card, committed a reckless tackle on Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas. Referee Stuart Attwell decided to play advantage, allowing Liverpool to continue their attack. However, moments later, Tottenham capitalized on the space left by Tsimikas and scored the decisive goal.
Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, was visibly unhappy with the decision not to send off Bergvall for a second yellow card. In his post-match press conference, Slot expressed his frustration, stating, “Every manager would prefer to get a second yellow card for the opposition than to finish that counter-attack. It would be more interesting for everyone if he explained why he didn’t give a second yellow card than explaining why he cancelled the goal.”
Slot emphasized that the decision had a significant impact on the result and felt unlucky for his team. Despite the loss, he remained optimistic about Liverpool’s chances in the second leg.
With the tie still very much alive, Liverpool will be eager to overturn the deficit at Anfield. Tottenham, on the other hand, will be looking to defend their lead and advance to the final. The Carabao Cup final is scheduled for March 16, 2025, at Wembley Stadium, where the winner will be crowned.
The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to this Carabao Cup semi-final, with both teams vying for a spot in the final and a chance to lift the prestigious trophy.
Liverpool performance and stats
In the last 4 games, it has won 3 times and lost once. In its last match, Liverpool lost 1-0 against Tottenham Hotspur.
