'Liverpool punished'
Former Spurs ace Michael Dawson told Sky Sports that Liverpool were 'punished' by Stuart Attwell's decision not to send Lucas Bergvall off.
Speaking after the game, he said: “I don’t think the first one is a yellow card on Luis Diaz.
“He gives the referee a decision to make but the referee got that one wrong.
“On the second one, I have no defence for Bergvall. He lunges and catches Tsimikas and that should’ve been a yellow card.
“Liverpool are certainly punished with that.”
Match report
It was the night when Tottenham’s youth recruitment drive finally started to make sense.
As 18-year-old Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall netted the late winner, his fellow teenager Archie Gray shone in defence and Ange Postecoglou had a rare night of joy and optimism.
Liverpool were fuming that Bergvall was still on the pitch when, on a yellow card for hacking down Luis Diaz, escaped punishment for a late sliding foul on Kostas Tsimikas.
The Reds’ Greek left-back was still off the pitch when Bergvall netted the winner from a slick move.
Spurs now take a slender lead to Anfield for the distant return leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final on February 6.
And Postecoglou’s boast of always winning a trophy in his second season at a club remains on course for fruition.
Momentous occasion
One talking point that will potentially get lost in all of the drama tonight was the momentous VAR/refereeing scenario.
Ruling out Dom Solanke's goal for offside in the second half, Stuart Attwell announced the decision over the speakers to the crowd from the pitch.
If you're a fan of the NFL, you'll know exactly how that looks.
Though they're not usually quite as nervous as he looked delivering his mini-speech.
He said: “After a review, Dominic Solanke was in an offside position in the build-up to the goal, therefore the decision is offside.”
Postecoglou after the match said: "Just get on with the game, mate. It used to be you put your flag up and it's offside."
Slot reacts
Arne Slot reveals Stuart Attwell's decision not to send Lucas Bergvall off had a huge impact on his side losing the game.
He also said Attwell himself must have been concerned to see the Spurs man go on to score the winner.
He told Sky Sports: “I think everyone who stands in front of a camera will say it had a big influence on the game.
“It didn’t feel to me like we were ever going to lose. The decision he made had a huge impact on the result.
“There’s nothing else I can say on that.
“That is a rule I don’t like, if a player gets injured and treatment he has to go off for 30 seconds. I don’t understand why this is necessary.
“Conceding during this time and to the player who should have had a second yellow card is not ideal.
“I think the referee was even thinking ‘is this really happening, with him scoring’.
“The fourth official told me in the tunnel why he didn’t think it was a yellow, then Robbo asked the referee and was told it’s because he didn’t stop a counter attack.
“He could still give a yellow if it’s a reckless challenge but he didn’t see it as reckless, which we can debate.”
'Couldn't dream it'
Antonín Kinský revealed after the game he's a 'big dreamer' but even he couldn't have dreamt up a debut like tonight.
He also revealed the emotional hug was with his sister, having informed his family yesterday that there was a chance he'd be playing.
Asked by Sky Sports if tonight was one of the best nights of his life, he said: “Yeah definitely. I’m a big dreamer but probably I’ve never dreamt this dream.
“It’s amazing and I’m so happy. All the people have been kind and I’m so happy for the people, the club and myself.
“It was my sister. I told her yesterday there was a possibility I would be playing so she came with her boyfriend and my mum and dad.
“I hope they’re happy and proud.”
Van Dijk reacts
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk reveals what he told Stuart Attwell after the game, having had words with the referee on that Bergvall decision.
He told Sky Sports: “Listen, I think it was quite obvious it should have been a second yellow.
“It was pretty clear and then a minute later he scores the winner.
“It is what it is. He made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. It was obvious.
“There was a linesman there, a fourth official, VAR and a referee.
“It wasn’t the reason we lost the game but it was a big moment.”
Some debut
Antonín Kinský jumped the advertising boards and into the crowd for an emotional embrace.
Whoever the young lady was on the other end of his hug was in tears, no doubt bursting with pride at the youngster's debut.
To be thrust in to a game like this, against the top side in European football at present and keep a clean sheet must be more than he could have ever dreamed of.
Really great scenes, and the Spurs fans around them were more than happy to give him an ovation for that showing.