Tottenham will go 1-0 into next month's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Liverpool thanks to Lucas Bergvall's second-half winner.
Much will be made of whether the young Swede should have had the opportunity to convert the match-winning moment, but Spurs were good for their first-leg win on Wednesday night.
For the second game in a row, Liverpool were below par, but they are far from a draw with a fascinating second leg set at Anfield next month.
How the game played out
Arne Slot may have surprised some by going close to full strength on Wednesday night, given the lack of rest his team has had over the past month. The Breathers must arrive this weekend against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup before the league leaders travel to Nottingham Forest.
However, the Dutchman made four changes from the side that won 6-3 in the N17 before Christmas, with the bulk of the changes coming in defence.
Ange Postecoglou went as hard as he could given the circumstances, and there was an immediate debut for new arrival Antonin Kinsky between the sticks. South Korean Yang Min-hyeok was named to the bench.
Radu Dragusin forced a smart save from Alisson in the opening exchanges, but their early momentum was halted by Rodrigo Bentancur's nasty head/neck injury. The Uruguayan was stretchered off after a long layoff and, thankfully, was later reported conscious.
We can confirm that Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025
The anticipated chaos never materialized in the opening period, with the contest plagued by stoppages. Tottenham, perhaps keen to avenge their defeat in December, contested fiercely and were the superior team for most of the first half, but the Reds grew into the contest after a slow and sluggish start, eventually forced the hosts into 'cling-on' mode before. part of the first half. Newbie Kinsky was rarely tested, however.
There was no change in the dynamic after the restart, although the contest should have been ignited by a Spurs opener. After Bergvall worked tirelessly to eventually dispossess a fortuitous Alisson, Pedro Porro inexplicably spurned two gilt-edged chances – the first of which was brilliantly blocked by Virgil van Dijk.
Slot opted for a triple change in an attempt to light a fuse, with Liverpool aiming to capitalize with them at Anfield next month. One participant, Trent Alexander-Arnold, came close with a sumptuous half-volley but the Englishman was expertly denied on the line by Dragusin.
The hosts then thought they had taken a precious lead when Dominic Solanke finished behind Alisson after latching on to a divine Porro pass, but VAR was on hand to dampen Lilywhite's spirits with Stuart Attwell, via the medium of speech (!), confirming that Solanke was offside.
The Tottenham striker, however, played a key role in the opener and eventual winner. Solanke teed up Bergvall, who finished coolly after holding off Ibrahima Konate and picking out the onrushing Swede.
With Liverpool failing to shift gears after that, Spurs held on and will take a valuable lead at Anfield in February.
Check out the player ratings for Tottenham vs Liverpool here.
Slott's team selection spells respect for the hosts but may also have suggested the Dutchman was keen to finish this semi-final away from home.
However, after running away with a point against Manchester United on SundayLiverpool struggled in Wednesday's first leg just weeks after wiping the floor with the Lilywhites.
There was archetypal growth, but the Reds were generally slow and cautious in N17. Tottenham stifled their start and it took a while for their powerful forward line to get involved in the contest. Passes fell flat as Sloti's side produced an uncharacteristic display of inconsistency, with their inability to create chances not only a result of their poor work without the ball but also the home side's overworked efforts out of possession.
A 1-0 deficit is far from insurmountable, especially with the second leg arriving at a ground where superior Tottenham sides have died a quick death in the past. However, there is a lot about Slot to think about.
Much was made of Postecoglou's decision to withdraw Lucas Bergvall in the second half of Spurs' defeat to Newcastle on Saturday, but the suspensions of James Maddison and Pape Sarr meant the Swede's freshness was required against the Reds.
It initially looked as if Bergvall would be given the chance to flourish in a vacant midfield role, but Bentancur's forced withdrawal saw Ange change tack. With Dejan Kulusevski moving onto the field, the young midfielder had to be deployed closer to Yves Bissouma, but Bergvall was not deterred, as was the case on Saturday, playing a more disciplined role.
Bergvall, along with the equally impressive Archie Gray and Djed Spence, display the bravery and fearlessness their manager encourages them to play. As Gray rose imperially, Spence refused to care that Mohamed Salah was the nearest available, Bergvall's effort without the ball was outstanding.
He was perhaps lucky to have stayed on but the 18-year-old was a deserved match-winner on Wednesday night.
Tottenham have a lot of work to do in the January transfer window and Johan Lange worked undercover to seal their first signing of the month. 98% of fans had not heard of 21-year-old Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky before reports surfaced of his imminent arrival.
However, he would have won big on his debut.
Short sleeves are an aesthetic question mark, but Kinsky otherwise looks the part. His ball work was excellent throughout, as he showed an ability to make nimble passes over the press and hit long balls back. Most of the time, he waited until the last moment to be released just to ensure that some hearts among the Tottenham faithful stopped.
Most of Liverpool's efforts required routine stops, but Kinsky made a superb save to deny Darwin Nunez in the second half, before smartly turning a breakthrough effort from the Uruguayan around the post in stoppage time.
Are you watching, Guglielmo?