Liverpool faced a controversial setback in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, losing narrowly in a match filled with contentious moments.
Lucas Bergvall scored the winning goal in the 86th minute, just after escaping a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Kostas Tsimikas.
The defeat, only the second under manager Arne Slot, leaves Liverpool with the challenge of overturning a one-goal deficit in the second leg at Anfield next month.
Despite the result, individual performances were mixed. Virgil van Dijk, earning an 8, was a commanding presence in Liverpool’s makeshift backline, where he partnered with Quansah, Endo, and later Ibrahima Konaté.
His composure and leadership were especially crucial in the second half. Kostas Tsimikas, rated a 6, overcame an early error and contributed with threatening set-pieces and crosses. Unfortunately, he was off the pitch receiving treatment for Bergvall’s foul when Tottenham capitalized and scored.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch earned a 6 for showing flashes of brilliance with neat passing and interceptions, though his defensive contributions were inconsistent before improving after halftime. Alexis Mac Allister, rated 7, was Liverpool’s most active and creative player in midfield.
Despite missing a first-half header, his presence was vital before being substituted late in the game. Curtis Jones, who scored a 5, started strongly with robust challenges but faded significantly as the match progressed, leaving little impact apart from a late penalty shout during injury time.
In attack, Mohamed Salah struggled to find his rhythm, earning a 6. He missed a key opportunity and spent much of the game chasing overhit passes, though he showed slight improvement in the second half.
Diogo Jota, rated 5, dropped deep to link up play but had minimal involvement due to lack of service and was eventually substituted.
Cody Gakpo, scoring a 7, created Salah’s first-half chance and worked hard down the left flank, generating several opportunities before being taken off.
Among the substitutes, Wataru Endo performed admirably, earning a 7. Filling in at center-back and later shifting to midfield, he displayed excellent positioning. Darwin Núñez, also rated 7, brought energy to Liverpool’s attack and forced three saves from Tottenham’s goalkeeper.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, rated 6, had a late shot cleared off the line and was warmly received by Liverpool’s traveling fans. Despite the loss, Liverpool will look to bounce back in the decisive second leg at Anfield.
