Tottenham will take a one-goal lead to Anfield in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg after narrowly beating the Premier League leaders in north London on Wednesday.
A goal from 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall four minutes into the game proved the difference in a thrilling encounter at Tottenham Hotspur.
However, the match began in the first half with what appeared to be a serious injury to Rodrigo Bentancur, which sent the midfielder to hospital.
Spurs have never been held to a goalless draw during Ange Postecoglou's tenure and the game looked headed for Bergvall's second defeat of the season before only scoring for Arne Slot's side.
It was Tottenham's first win in their last eight EFL games after beating Manchester United.
He won the first round. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ktX5W2OTjA
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8 2025
Before the event, Postecoglou has cited his side's starting line-up as a factor in their drop in results in recent weeks, and said Salah will struggle to fit into the squad with an injury.
Spurs suffered another blow when the returning Bentancur was stretchered off after six minutes and taken to hospital for treatment. .
Despite the change and subsequent lengthy delays. It was Postecoglou's side that started the brightest. Meanwhile, the league leaders were careless in possession.
Alisson had to be alert to keep out Radu Dragușin's early effort and Dominic Solanke went narrowly wide from Son Heung-min's cross.
Liverpool had to make a change in the first half after Jarell Quansah was replaced by Wataru Endo.
Watford had a few chances as they went close courtesy of Salah and Kodiak Pogba, but neither effort could really trouble Spurs youngster Antonin Kinksy.
“It's an incredible time to score your first goal for the club.” 🎙
Lucas Bergvall put Spurs ahead in the 85th minute of the first leg. 💥 pic.twitter.com/NxZxPt9vLH
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8 2025
After the break, Liverpool's firepower was halted when Alisson almost robbed Bergvall of the ball as he tried to clear the backline.
The Brazilian survived the first challenge, but Bergvall came back with another bite, pushing the ball into the path of Pedro Porro in the first cut, but wasted the follow-up.
Kinsky was again in action when he saved substitute Darwin Nunez. Then, as the game opened, Dragusin was blocked off the line by another of Slot's subs, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
With less than 15 minutes remaining, Spurs thought they had taken the lead when Porro's cross found Solanke running through the Reds defence.
But the former Liverpool player was ruled offside by VAR.
Ten minutes later, the home team counted and scored a goal. From another Porro delivery, Solanke parried Ibrahima Konate before laying the ball to Bergvall, who finished well inside the box for his first Spurs goal.
He proved enough to lead Spurs into the second leg at Anfield on 6 February.