YOUNG GUNS:
Two 18-year-olds and a 21-year-old debutant in goal helped Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final tie
Liverpool boss Arne Slot slammed the controversial decision not to send off Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall before the teenager sealed a 1-0 win in the English League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Slot was furious that Bergvall avoided a second booking after tripping Kostas Tsimikas with a sliding tackle.
Tsimikas was forced off the pitch following the challenge, but referee Stuart Attwell opted to give Liverpool the chance to counterattack.
Photo: AFP
When Liverpool lost possession just seconds later, Tottenham took advantage by breaking into the space vacated by Tsimikas to score the 86th-minute winner.
Dominic Solanke’s pass was converted by Bergvall for his first Tottenham goal.
However, fuming Slot said: “The decision made had a lot of impact on the result tonight. The fourth official told me why he thought it wasn’t a second yellow and he heard that probably from the referee.”
“What we can say about it is that he said he didn’t stop the counter-attack, every manager would say they prefer the second yellow than a free-kick,” he added.
Postecoglou, who saw his injury problems mount when Rodrigo Bentancur was taken to hospital with a head injury received in the first half, admitted it was a relief to see his side overcome adversity for a change.
“Very proud. We had to deal with some adversity again. We started well and then lost Rodrigo, in the way it happened with quite distressing scenes when he went down in that manner. We had to compose ourselves,” he said.
On Bentancur’s first-half injury, which needed nine minutes of treatment including an oxygen mask on the pitch, Postecoglou said: “He was conscious when he got to the dressing room.”
“My understanding is it was a head injury. It was worrying and always a concern, but from what I know hopefully he will be OK,” he added.
Liverpool’s first defeat in 24 games in all competitions was only their second loss since Slot replaced Juergen Klopp in the close-season.
The English Premier League leaders have gone two matches without a win after Sunday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with lowly Manchester United, but Slot, whose team won 6-3 at Tottenham in the league last month, is not overly concerned, with Liverpool having the chance to overturn the deficit in the second leg at Anfield on Feb. 6.
“The good thing for us is if you ever lose a game it’s best in a tie with a second leg. It’s still far from ideal for us,” he said.
It was a cathartic victory for Postecoglou, who has been under fire from frustrated fans throughout a turbulent season.
Injury-hit Tottenham are languishing in 12th place in the Premier League amid criticism of the Australian’s overly-attacking tactics.
With his squad decimated by injuries, Postecoglou had to throw 18-year-olds Bergvall and Archie Gray and 24-year-old Djed Spence in at the deep end, while 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made an impressive debut just days after arriving from Slavia Prague.
While Tottenham’s season has been chronically inconsistent there are signs that, given time, they can flourish under the Australian coach.
“Name me another Premier League team that’s got two 18-year-olds and one playing out of position consistently,” Postecoglou told reporters.
“I’m so happy they’re at our football club and you know, in two or three years’ time, I just pray to God I’m the beneficiary of their talent, mate, because if somebody else is getting it, I won’t be happy,” he said.
Bergvall, who was signed from Djurgarden for ￡8.5 million (US$10.4 million) a year ago before being loaned back to the club, was “brilliant” against Liverpool and was only going to get better, Postecoglou said.
“I just don’t think people really understand the level of performance that these young guys are giving us at the moment,” he said.
“I’ve got no doubt that when we get our players back, the foundations are really strong, with a group of players we can really grow with,” he added.
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