THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, NORTH LONDON // Liverpool and Spurs found only one goal between them in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. After a 3-6 just a couple of weeks ago, neither side was anywhere near its best in the final third here.
Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off after a lengthy delay in the first half with the Uruguayan midfielder having landed awkwardly while attempting to head the ball. Spurs say he is conscious and receiving medical attention, with everyone's fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
Dominic Solanke thought he had the opening goal of the match only to be brought back for offside (the first VAR call in the English game to be announced on-field by the referee). Lucas Bergvall then did score with five minutes of normal time remaining.
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Winners
The likes of Conor Bradley, Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota all looked rusty but they will only benefit from playing here. Each will have a role to play over the next few months and getting them up to speed will be important. Trent Alexander-Arnold, getting half an hour under his belt and looking much better than last weekend, can only be a good thing too (for him and Liverpool).
Losers
Curtis Jones didn't look like he knew where he should be for much of the first half. He kept having conversations with Arne Slot, who was shouting and pointing, but it never really clicked for him and Diogo Jota.
Jarell Quansah going off injured was far from ideal either. With Joe Gomez already out with a hamstring injury and Ibrahima Konate only just back, Liverpool is looking light of numbers at center-back again.
Player ratings
Alisson Becker (6). Made a big early save from Radu Dragusin from close range when he got down to push away the Romanian center-back's effort. Almost gave a goal away twice when he got away with a drag back and then was tackled by Lucas Bergvall. Fortunate.
Conor Bradley (6). Chosen ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Irishman looked rusty and took a fair while to get into the game. He hasn't played for a while and it showed with Bradley having little influence going forward.
Jarell Quansah (5). It was no surprise that he started with Ibrahima Konate having only just come back from injury. He looked a little nervy to begin with, giving possession away sloppily and without much pressure. He only lasted half an hour before being taken off through injury. Wataru Endo replaced him; a sign that Konate wasn't ready to play an hour.
Virgil van Dijk (7). Like against Manchester United, he needed to be on his game to help those around through a not-particularly-easy game. His positioning was good and he won plenty of headers.
Kostas Tsimikas (6). Started slowly and almost played Dominic Solanke in when he didn't see the England striker next to Van Dijk. Got into a couple of good crossing positions but couldn't make the most of them. Improved as the game went on.
Ryan Gravenberch (6). Solid in possession but bumped off the ball too easily a couple of times when he was caught on the wrong side of his man. There were lots of bodies around him at all times but he equally didn't give Dejan Kulusevski much space.
Alexis Mac Allister (6). Neat and tidy in the middle but not as scintillating as he has been at times lately. He could have scored had Salah not taken a good goalscoring chance off his toe.
Curtis Jones (6). Arne Slot was not happy at all with his positioning early in the game, as he continually spoke with both Jones and Diogo Jota. It was a team with changes and it didn't quite look right. He had a better second half but wasn't completely at it.
Mohamed Salah (6). Quieter than he normally is on the right-hand side but nearly caught out Antonin Kinsky, Spurs' new goalkeeper, with an audacious effort. Neither side was that effective in the final third.
Diogo Jota (5). Like the other players who haven't featured for a while, he looked more than a little rusty. His touch wasn't quite right and he was overhitting a lot of passes. Replaced just before the hour mark.
Cody Gakpo (6). He got into a couple of shooting positions but was often trying to do it all on his own. More often than not, he was crowded out, so even when he shot, it got blocked.
Substitutes
Wataru Endo (7). Slotted in at center-back, which is an unusual position, and performed better there than Quansah. His positioning was good and he looked comfortable on the ball before then moving into midfield.
Darwin Nunez (6). Showed plenty of willingness to run and track back, including ending up making a tackle at left-back when Spurs countered on one occasion. The one chance he had was smashed straight at the goalkeeper.
Luis Diaz (7). Offered a bit more pace and trickery in the Liverpool attack which was needed. Carved a couple of opportunities out but couldn't score.