Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A late goal by Lucas Bergvall in the 86th minute gave the hosts a critical advantage heading into the second leg. Despite Liverpool’s superior possession and attacking statistics, they failed to break through Tottenham’s defense.
Liverpool dominated possession with 61% of the ball, completing 565 passes with 86% accuracy compared to Tottenham’s 39% possession and 377 passes at 78% accuracy. However, the visitors could not convert their dominance into goals. Liverpool registered 14 shots, seven of which were on target, but Tottenham’s defense and goalkeeper stood firm. Tottenham, on the other hand, made the most of their limited chances, managing four shots on target out of nine attempts.
The match saw Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, make strategic substitutions, introducing Wataru Endō, Darwin Núñez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold to bolster their attacking options. Despite these changes, Liverpool struggled to find the equalizer. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, in contrast, relied on a compact defensive structure to maintain their lead.
Liverpool committed 10 fouls during the game but avoided any yellow or red cards. Tottenham picked up two yellow cards but kept their discipline otherwise. Both teams earned just two corners, highlighting the tight and tactical nature of the match.
The result sets up an intriguing second leg at Anfield, where Liverpool will aim to overturn the deficit. With no away goals rule in the competition, the tie remains open, but Tottenham will hope to build on this result to secure their place in the final.
