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Spurs young guns deliver for Postecoglou

Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou showed faith in his youthful stars in the hothouse of an EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, and was fully vindicated as they delivered in style.

Bergvall was the name on everyone's lips at the final whistle, not just because the 18-year-old Swede played with great maturity in midfield, but because Liverpool will feel he should have been shown a second yellow card, with the video assistant referee (VAR) unable to intervene once play was allowed to carry on after his reckless tackle on Tsimikas by referee Attwell.

In the wider context, however, Bergvall has shown amid Spurs' struggles exactly why they were so keen to acquire his services in the summer, the £8.5m paid to Djurgarden already looking like a bargain.

And sharing top billing was 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, barely through the door after a £12.5m move from Slavia Prague but thrown straight into this crucial game by Postecoglou.

He showed great confidence with the ball at his feet and when commanding his area, his biggest contribution coming late on when he reacted superbly to turn away Darwin Nunez's header.

Spurs have a slender advantage to take to Anfield, but they will be well satisfied with that, having been thrashed 6-3 at home by Liverpool recently in the Premier League.

'All good guys' - Bentancur update

Tottenham Hotspur

Rodrigo Bentancur was taken off on a stretcher just six minutes into Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, after he fell while unchallenged as he stretched to head a ball from a corner.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international was treated on the pitch for around nine minutes and received oxygen before he was replaced by forward Brennan Johnson.

It was later confirmed he was conscious and talking and was taken to hospital for further checks.

Bentancur took to Instagram in the early hours of this morning to write 'all good, guys!', and thank fans for their messages.

Spurs edge out Liverpool

Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool

It may only be a narrow advantage but Tottenham head to Anfield next month with a one goal buffer, thanks to 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall's second-half winner.

The question as to whether the Sweden midfielder should even have been on the pitch, however, is something we'll discuss in detail.

Pedro Porro missed a great chance to put Spurs ahead after a mistake by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson which left boss Ange Postecoglou to drop to his knees on the touchline in disbelief. Dominic Solanke also saw a goal ruled out for offside.

Liverpool were far from their best, with the word 'leggy' most commonly used to describe Arne Slot's side performance last night.

One of the Reds' best chances fell to substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold but his fizzing shot was cleared off the line by Radu Dragusin.

Good morning

Hello, folks. It's cold, it's dark and it's January. Go careful wherever you're heading today.

If you're a Tottenham fan, you'll be happy this morning. If you're a Liverpool, maybe not so much. First legs of the Carabao Cup semi-finals are done and last night's game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had plenty of talking points for us to go over.

There's also new manager in town - one we already know well. Graham Potter has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with West Ham and will be unveiled at a news conference today. We'll bring you what he has to say later on.

And it's the third round of the FA Cup weekend. I say weekend, the action starts tonight and then carries on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Kinsky is 'eligible to play'

Tottenham v Liverpool (Wed, 20:00 GMT)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky: "He arrived on Sunday, he had a couple of days of training. He is registered and eligible to play. He is one we had earmarked for the summer, end of season to bring in but we have had injuries. I've got a decision to make [on Wednesday]."

Post

Thanks Barry.

Next up, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will be speaking to the media any time from 13:00 GMT.

Tottenham face Liverpool at home in their EFL Cup first leg tomorrow night.

Cunha's glasses offer helps reduce punishment

Nick Mashiter

BBC Sport football news reporter

Matheus Cunha's offer to pay for new glasses for a member of Ipswich's security helped save him from a longer ban and heavier fine.

The Wolves striker was suspended for two games and an £80,000 fine after clashing with a member of the Tractor Boys' security team last month.

He had been charged by the Football Association with misconduct following the altercation - where he snatched the glasses off the face of the security guard - on the pitch at the final whistle of Wolves' 2-1 defeat at Molineux.

An regulatory commission initially considered hitting the 25-year-old with a £120,000 fine and a three-game ban.

But in their written reasons the commission agreed Cunha's acceptance of the charge, his sincere personal apology and the offer to pay for new glasses were mitigating factors, reducing the fine and ban.

Cunha served the first game of his ban on Monday, sitting out Wolves' 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Post

Exactly Dom.

Also, I fondly remember that season when Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City were all going for the title a decade back.

Liverpool slipped up against Chelsea, Chelsea lost to Crystal Palace. Everybody was messing up.

I can't really remember anything from the run in of that season Manchester City and Liverpool both got 90-odd points.

Cunha charge reasons published

The Football Association has published the written reasons relating to the two-match suspension given to Wolves striker Matheus Cunha last month.

The FA charged Cunha with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 on the ground that he acted in an improper manner.

After the final whistle following Wolves 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town on 14 December, Cunha elbowed a member of the Ipswich security staff, and then knocked his glasses from his face, causing them to break.

Cunha accepted the charge, and in his evidence said: "I was surrounded by a large number of people, mainly Ipswich personnel, so I remember feeling quite threatened at the time. So in an effort to get [secutiry staff member] to let go of my shirt, in the heat of the moment I regrettably reached out and grabbed his glasses. I know it was wrong to do this and I take full responsibility for my actions."

Cunha missed Wolves' 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on Monday, and will serve the second match of his suspension when his side face Bristol City in the FA Cup on Saturday.

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Everybody loves an underdog.

Well, almost everybody. Anybody not secretly supporting them?

And I'm curious, why? And is there anybody out there with a pedantic reason for not supporting a particular club?

Maybe an evil in-law follows them, or did you lose to a specific team in Football Manager or Fifa. Let us know!

'Liverpool game will be enormous for Ange'

FT: Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle United

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

We all know Ange Postecoglou is highly passionate and rattled at the moment. He is under pressure.

The Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool will be so enormous for him.

There's the great debate whether he should adapt because he's got lesser players in the Spurs squad. I understand that debate and I agree that if you're playing Archie Gray and Djed Spence in defence, then there's nothing wrong in giving them a bit of protection.

But Postecoglou is a stickler for playing that way and he believes that's for the betterment of team further down the line.

A large element of Tottenham fans are still with him because of how depleted the team are and believe he can turn it around. But the next few games will be so, so big for him.

Post

Thanks Martin, I think you make a really great point.

And I think it counts for goalscorers too. Peak Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi changed expectations what with their consistent 40-goal seasons.

Nowadays if a striker scores less than 20 league goals in a season there's almost a negative discourse around their form.

And there really shouldn't be.

Nineteen goals in 38 games is an exceptional record people!

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou repeatedly tells BBC Sport that Spurs would have beaten Newcastle "if all things were equal" following a 2-1 home defeat by the Magpies.

REPORT: Newcastle come from behind to leave Spurs winless in four

Watch Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says he has "got no problem" with James Maddison going to watch darts despite being unable to start a match because of illness.

The England midfielder was meant to start last Sunday's home game against Wolves at 15:00 GMT but was only deemed well enough to be on the bench.

He came on in the 64th minute of their 2-2 draw.

Hours later he was pictured at the World Darts Championship tie between Luke Humphries and Peter Wright at London's Alexandra Palace - along with team-mate Brennan Johnson.

"I've got no problem with the players having lives," said Postecoglou. "It's a lot different trying to play a game of football and living a life. I don't see any problem with that and I don't think it hurt him.

"He wasn't 100% and it was a game where we needed someone to be 100%. He was still well enough to play.

"If he was bed-ridden, didn't turn up to the game and then still went to the darts, there may be an issue there. But I had no issue with that."

Maddison, who celebrates goals by pretending to throw a dart, has scored eight and created five assists in 26 appearances this season.

"I still think the key with Madders is to keep him fit, keep him healthy, keep him sharp and that's by not playing every game, especially with the programme we've got," said Postecoglou.

"When he's played this year his goal tally is strong, he's always impacted the game and that's what we need him to keep doing."

Thomas Tuchel is set to watch his first round of club fixtures as England head coach this week, starting with Tottenham's Premier League match at home to Newcastle on Saturday.

The German, 51, was confirmed as the Three Lions boss in October, replacing Gareth Southgate, before officially starting his role on 1 January.

Tuchel and his team are preparing for England's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, which starts on 21 March against Albania at Wembley.

Striker Dominic Solanke and midfielder James Maddison are among the England players likely to feature for Spurs, while defender Lewis Hall and winger Anthony Gordon are in line to play for Newcastle.

Meanwhile, Tuchel has added three members to his backroom staff - goalkeeping coach Henrique Hilario, performance coach Nicolas Mayer and analyst James Melbourne.

The trio team up with Tuchel and assistant coach Anthony Barry, who was announced in October, to work alongside existing England senior staff members.

Portugal's Hilario and England's Melbourne join from Chelsea after working with Tuchel at Stamford Bridge in 2021-22.

Frenchman Mayer joins after stints alongside Tuchel at Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich.

We asked what Tottenham's New Year resolutions should be.

Here are some of your replies:

Thomas: Buy a centre-back ASAP.

Shaun: Buy three or four players minimum to fill the voids left by injury and form.

Toby: Just sign some players to build up the squad depth. This injury crisis is forcing us to play a weakened squad every game. We need more players as soon as possible, maybe some more experienced players since we have lots of good prospects for the future.

Pete: New owners please. It's 24 years of failure with no responsibility taken by the board. Take the money you've made and go now, please.

Frank: So many hamstring injuries - is there something wrong with training or players understanding how to avoid this? A New Year resolution for the medical team should be to sort this out.

Richard: Don't sit on a one-goal lead and buy a good goalkeeper.

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'Champions ahead but a few nervy moments'

HT: Leicester 0-1 Man City

Sarah Mulkerrins

BBC Final Score reporter at King Power Stadium

The champions are ahead but there have been a few nervy moments in defence for them. A loose header from Josko Gvardiol needed Stefan Ortega to save from Jamie Vardy to spare his blushes. Facundo Buonanotte also hit the post later on. Leicester are getting chances on the break, and the game is opening up.

Post

Everton 0-1 Nottm Forest

Everton are plugging away as they try to find an equaliser but their finishing has been lacking so far as Armando Broja sends a header from a cross way off target.

Post

Everton 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Shamoon Hafez

BBC Sport football news reporter at Goodison Park

That's the 15th time this season Nottingham Forest have scored the opening goal in a game this season.

As it stands, Nuno Espirito Santo's side are up to SECOND in the table.

How is your fitness Fraser Forster

Tottenham 1-1 Wolves

Nizaar Kinsella

BBC Sport football news reporter

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster needed treatment in the 20th minute on his left leg.

That's an injury Spurs can ill-afford to happen with only inexperienced Brandon Austin available on the bench.

Of course, no1 Guglielmo Vicario remains out for a substantial period of time due to surgery on a fractured ankle.

Post

Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton

Thanks Chris. That said, Crystal Palace are starting to wake up.

A one-two on the edge of the box sets up Jefferson Lerma whose shot is palmed away by Aaron Ramsdale.

Jan Bednarek then does well to intercept a dangerous cross.

Post

Everton 0-1 Nottm Forest

Stephen Warnock

Former Premier League defender on Final Score

This scoreline will suit Forest down to the ground. They will shut up shop and Everton will have to come out, giving them the ability to hit Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood on the counter.

'Wood lifts it over the top effortlessly'

Everton 0-1 Nott'm Forest

Pat Nevin

Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Anthony Elanga's uses his intelligence and it's a one-two which he has played with Chris Wood.

Wood lifts it over the top effortlessly.

Post

Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton

Where has this Southampton side been all season?

Suddenly they look devastating on the counter as a cross falls to James Bree who volleys straight at the keeper.

'Brilliant from Wood'

Everton 0-1 Nottm Forest

Stephen Warnock

Former Premier League defender on Final Score

This is brilliant from Chris Wood. Forest go direct to him and rather than flicking the ball on aimlessly he puts it into the path of Anthony Elanga.

He then gets the ball back, which draws Jordan Pickford out of his goal and Wood then dinks it over him.

Cunha is a delight to watch but for how long?

Tottenham 1-1 Wolves

Nizaar Kinsella

BBC Sport football news reporter

Matheus Cunha is the most box office entertainer of all the players on show so far in North London.

His tricks, flicks and dribbles already in the first 20 minutes have drawn gasps and admiration from both the home and away ends.

But he may face a lengthy ban after being charged with misconduct by the FA for his actions after the defeat to Ipswich.

Unfortunately for Spurs, Manchester United and Leicester City - the FA procedure takes time to process, with the Brazilian still available to cause them damage.

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