Tottenham, under Ange, haven’t had the best start to the new year, beginning with a 2-1 loss to Newcastle on Saturday, despite a solid performance from the team. Injuries have been on the rise, adding to their challenges.
Heading into their match against the in-form and table-topping Liverpool, Spurs were already at a disadvantage due to the mounting injuries.
In a bold move, Tottenham chose to start new signing Antonin Kinsky over Brandon Austin, who had made his debut in the Newcastle game and was the player of the match. This was a crucial match for the Australian, who was under pressure, but his team stepped up and delivered.
The first half was relatively timid from both sides, with Liverpool leading the offensive play. Tottenham had a great chance to spark things up when Son made a clever stepover and delivered a direct pass to Solanke, who failed to capitalize on the clear opportunity. On Liverpool’s side, Gakpo was at the forefront of their attacks, but Tottenham’s defense managed to contain him effectively. Overall, Tottenham had a solid first half.
The second half saw the game’s momentum shift. Tottenham’s fortunes were saved when Dragusin made a crucial goal-line clearance, staying composed to deny a powerful shot from Trent. Tottenham’s defense also blocked two other attempts. Dominic Solanke had a brilliant moment when he scored from a fantastic pass by Pedro Porro, but the goal was ruled offside. The real turning point came when Solanke capitalized on an error by Konaté, passing to the young Bergvall, who fired a stunning shot to give Tottenham the lead. With the second leg set for Anfield, Tottenham now hold a crucial 1-0 advantage.
Here is how we think Tottenham players fared in the match against Liverpool on Thursday in the Carabao Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham Starting XI
Antonin Kinsky: 9/10
He had the perfect debut, making crucial saves throughout the match, including a vital last-minute stop against Nunez. An emerging star to keep an eye on.
Pedro Porro: 7/10
He was everywhere on the pitch, delivering an outstanding performance. Defensively, he made several crucial interceptions and blocks to help maintain his team’s win.
Radu Dragusin: 8/10
His goal-line clearance was pivotal in securing the win for the Lilywhites. With the injury crisis giving him the opportunity he deserved, he made the most of it and delivered a standout performance.
Archie Gray: 7/10
He was solid in central defense. Despite playing in a position that’s not natural to him, he did an admirable job, keeping Gakpo on his toes throughout the game.
Djed Spence: 8/10
Impressive both on and off the ball once again tonight, Spence was a driving force down the left for Tottenham, using his strength to protect the ball effectively. Salah had a quiet evening due Spence.
Lucas Bergvall: 8/10
He stole the ball from Alisson, setting up what should have been an easy goal for Porro. He grew into the game in the second half, making himself a constant runner for Spurs. Despite being fortunate not to receive a red card for a reckless challenge while already on a yellow. Won the match with his thundering strike.
Rodrigo Bentancur: N/A
He was forced off after just six minutes due to a concerning head injury. We can only hope and pray for better news.
Yves Bissouma: 7/10
He took full control of the midfield after losing his partner, sparking some great attacks for Spurs. Given the quality of Liverpool’s midfield, that performance deserves a lot of credit.
Dejan Kulusevski: 6/10
It wasn’t his usual performance, but he still had a few moments of real quality. However, he didn’t dominate the creative side of the game as he usually does.
Heung-min Son: 6/10
He had a few moments but didn’t meet his usual standard. It was another very quiet evening from Sonny. Up against young Conor Bradley and then Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a poor performance last time out, I expected much more direct attacking from Son. He looked tired and lacking confidence in that aspect of his game, though his stepover against Bradley was a nice highlight.
Dominic Solanke: 7/10
He worked tirelessly again, with his off-the-ball efforts sometimes outshining his play on it in the first half. In the second half, he was exceptional, linking up with teammates and driving Spurs forward. He took his chance well, only for VAR to deny the goal, then expertly got past Konate to assist Bergvall for the winner.
Substitutes
Brennan Johnson: 5/10
He came on to replace Bentancur and put in a solid shift. His hard work tracking back arguably stood out a lot for his overall game.
Timo Werner: 6/10
Did what he was bought on for. Absolute pocket rocket, tired out the defenders.
