Lucas Bergvall scored in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semis
Tottenham Hotspur have a slender advantage in their Carabao Cup semi-final after beating Liverpool 1-0 in their first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
For the first time in a while, the Lilywhites put in a strong all-round performance against Liverpool. There were so many top performers on the night that would have left the boss Ange Postecoglou beaming with happiness and pride, especially having come into the game with as many as 10 players missing due to injuries and suspensions.
New signing Antonin Kinsky shone on his debut and kept a clean sheet, aided by monstrous performances from centre-backs Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin. Full-backs Pedro Porro and Djed Spence did their jobs on Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, respectively, while Dominic Solanke was a thorn for his former employers with his pressing, constant running and physicality.
Another young player who hogged much of the limelight was Lucas Bergvall. The Swedish midfielder was excellent across the pitch; making crisp passes, trying to build up attacks from the back, disrupting the opposition’s play and most importantly scoring the winning goal for Tottenham.
Dominic Solanke, who set up the goal for Lucas Bergvall, has now reserved some special praise for the 18-year-old. The club-record signing claims that the teenage prodigy from Stockholm has improved massively since arriving at the club in the summer, tipping him to become a “great player” for Spurs.
When asked by the reporter what change he has seen in Bergvall over the last six months, Solanke told Hayters TV:
“He’s [Bergvall] obviously matured and has learned a lot since he came in already, which is great, we want players like that here. He’s showing that he’s putting in some very good performances and he still has a lot to work and improve on, and I’m sure he’ll be a great player for us.”
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The Sweden international’s all-action midfield display was eye-catching aside from his brilliantly taken goal as well, as he carried the ball with confidence, won tackles and challenges and looked composed in possession. Going up against a Liverpool midfield consisting of super technicians in Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones, the Spurs talent had a difficult task. But he, along with Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski, truly aced it.
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Bergvall, who was also praised by ex-Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, became the Lilywhites’ youngest goalscorer in the Carabao Cup, aged 18 years and 341 days since Gareth Bale, who scored against Middlesbrough in September 2007 (18 years and 72 days).
Liverpool fans and certain sections of the media would suggest the midfielder was lucky to avoid a second yellow card and stay on the pitch, but that should not concern the Spurs fans as they were treated to a Bergvall masterclass under the light in midweek.
