Eighteen-year-old Lucas Bergvall's first goal for Tottenham has given his side a precious 1-0 lead to take to Anfield in their Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool - although it was a controversial winner, according to Sky Sports.

Arne Slot's Reds were emphatic 6-3 victors when these teams met in the Premier League in north London in December but this was a tighter, error-filled contest which saw the top-flight's two leading scorers lacking their usual sharpness in the final third - until Dominic Solanke impressively out-muscled Ibrahima Konate for Bergvall to strike on 86 minutes.

Liverpool had appealed for a foul - and potential second yellow - when Bergvall slid in on Kostas Tsimikas a couple of minutes before he struck. But referee Stuart Attwell waved play on and opted not to later punish the Spurs teenager. Tsimikas was then off the pitch, having received treatment, when Bergvall scored.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was incensed. "[The ref] made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. It was quite obvious I think and everyone on the sidelines knew it was supposed to be a yellow. There is a linesman there, a fourth official, there is VAR and a referee, and he doesn't get a second yellow. I'm not saying this is the reason we lost today, but it was a big moment in the game."

Solanke had already seen a goal of his own chalked off for offside, with the VAR call announced over the public address system by referee Attwell for the first time. That news was greeted by jeers from the Spurs fans and celebratory cheers from the Liverpool support - but the mood of those supporters switched with Bergvall's late intervention.

While Spurs celebrated what they will hope to be a turning point after a four-game winless run, Slot's side have made a sluggish start to the New Year, first dropping points at home to Manchester United in the Premier League and now they leave London with an uphill battle to turn around this tie in the second leg on Thursday February 6.