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LIVERPOOL TO FACE NEWCASTLE IN CARABAO CUP FINAL AFTER THUMPING SORRY SPURS

Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk scored the goals as Liverpool walloped an insipid Spurs 4-0 at Anfield, easily overturning the one-goal first-leg deficit.

Liverpool immediately seized control of the game, Spurs allowing them the run of midfield. Though they did not create many chances early on, it was inevitable that the pressure would eventually tell and on 34 minutes, Gakpo finished smartly after good work from Salah, Jones and Darwin Nunez.

The notion of a Spurs' improvement was dispelled as soon as the second half started, Liverpool again assuming control with no opposition.

They went ahead in the tie on 51 minutes when Salah creamed home a penalty after Antonin Kinsky bought down Nunez, and made it safe 15 minutes from time when Szoboszlai rounded off a fine move.

Arne Slot's side even added a gratuitous fourth on 80 minutes when Van Dijk headed home from a corner.

So Liverpool go through to meet Newcastle at Wembley - a match in which they will face precisely the kind of physical examination Spurs shied away from in Merseyside. Where they go from here is less obvious.

'LIVERPOOL FULLY DESERVED THE VICTORY'

Ange Postecoglou spoke to Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, and said Liverpool were full value for the heavy victory.

"Ultimately Liverpool fully deserved the victory tonight. They were the better team. We just weren't able to get a grip in any part of the game defensively or with the ball. They were too good for us.

"We allowed them to get into the game, we weren't aggressive as we needed to be. Again, we didn't start the game off on the right foot, it allowed them to get comfortable. Once they got comfortable, it was difficult for us to get some control back."

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Lens defender Kevin Danso.

The Austria international is the second signing for Ange Postecoglou in the winter transfer window, following Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky through the door. Kinsky signed from Slavia Prague on January 5.

Danso arrives on an initial loan, with the obligation to make the deal permanent this summer for a fee reported to be in the region of £21 million.

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"We are delighted to announce the signing of Kevin Danso on loan from Ligue 1 side RC Lens, subject to international clearance and work permit," read a statement on the club's website.

"The Austria international defender will join the club on loan until the end of the season, with an obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer.

"He will wear the number four shirt."

Postecoglou has endured a tough second season at Tottenham after a persistent injury crisis has left them struggling for defenders, with Radu Dragusin suffering a knee problem in the past week to exacerbate the situation.

Reports have suggested that the Romanian could be out for the rest of the season, which may have forced Tottenham to act in the market. They have also been linked with Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.

Danso, 26, returns to the Premier League following a previous loan spell with Southampton, making 10 appearances across all competitions during the 2019/20 campaign.

He also spent time at the academies of Reading and MK Dons, before moving to Bundesliga side Augsburg.

Danso would then head on a second loan move to Fortuna Dusseldorf in the German second division before joining Lens in August 2021.

His stand-out campaign came in the 2022/23 season, after being named in the Ligue 1 team of the year and helping the club achieve a stunning second-place finish and subsequent UEFA Champions League qualification.

He leaves the Ligue 1 side after featuring a total of 128 times in Les Sang et Or colors, and made 14 appearances for Will Still's side in this campaign before heading to Spurs.

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FUTURE IS BRIGHT AS SPURS SEAL LAST-16 SPOT

Tottenham Hotspur were bailed out by three academy graduates as they sealed a spot in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Elfsborg.

It was largely a low-key affair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with an atmosphere to match, and Spurs struggled to create a meaningful chance until Pape Matar Sarr saw his shot well saved on 33 minutes after good work out wide by Son Heung-min.

The match of the final league phase stagnated in the second half, until the introduction of Dane Scarlett - who made an instant impact to breathe life into the match.

The 20-year-old, who spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Oxford United in the Championship, immediately pounced on an excellent Dejan Kulusevski cross to head home his first goal for the club, just four minutes after being introduced as a substitute.

And six minutes from time, 19-year-old debutant Damola Ajayi put the result beyond doubt as he fired home after a neat one-two with fellow academy team-mate Scarlett.

To seal what ended up being a heartwarming evening in north London, Mikey Moore capped off the scoring with the last meaningful kick of the game, embarking on a fantastic solo run before squeezing an effort into the far corner.

The result saw Elfsborg exit the European competition, as Spurs enjoyed a well-earned break ahead of their knockout tie.

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CROUCH ON ACADEMY PRODUCTS' IMPACT

Peter Crouch added: "In a game where you thought there might not be any smiles, it was downbeat, the young lads come off the bench, "You can see by everyone's reactions what it means. The injured players on the bench, it means so much when young lads coming through the youth team have such an influence on such a big game.

"Dane Scarlett has bounced around a few different loans, he's managed to get himself in the situation, come on, made a huge impact. Mikey Moore has been around the place, people talked about him for a long time, and Ajayi too - what a goal that was!

"Someone just said to me, just play the kids. We don't need to buy anyone. You know why? Because they're playing with no fear, come off the bench, had a massive impact in a European game.

"The fact the three young lads have come in and made the difference, it's just lifted the whole place. The manager is under so much stress, but everyone is coming away so pleased."

DAVIES HAILS TEAM-MATE SCARLETT'S IMPACT

Spurs defender Ben Davies was full of praise for Scarlett, after the 20-year-old scored his first Tottenham goal just four minutes after entering as a substitute.

"He came on in a game that was quite tough and changed it for us," Davies told TNT Sports. "Dane's worked so hard over the last few years that I've been with him.

"He's had to go out on loan, he's had to play limited minutes but to come on and play the way he did is amazing. Nothing short of what he deserves."

REASONS FOR SPURS FANS TO SMILE

Let us get this straight, Spurs fans have not had much to celebrate this season. But they can walk away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with broad smiles across their faces.

In what was a low-key affair until the final 20 minutes, Spurs struggled to really create anything meaningful - and it looked for all the world as if they were heading for a stalemate against their Swedish counterparts.

But the introduction of Dane Scarlett - who had previously struggled to break into Spurs' first team - changed everything, on a night where the club's academy ended up showing its worth.

The 20-year-old was first to strike, just four minutes after coming off the bench, while debutant Damola Ajayi soon followed up to notch his first goal and put the game beyond doubt.

But the result became even sweeter when Mikey Moore raced through and dispatched a fantastic solo effort to seal Spurs' top-eight spot. In the end, a fantastic night in north London, and one which will have Ange Postecoglou beaming.

The future is bright!

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 3-0 ELFSBORG (MOORE)

And how fitting is that! The much-loved Spurs youngster seals it, and that's just heartwarming.

From almost the halfway line, Moore wriggles away and races towards the box, before dispatching a low finish into the far corner.

It wasn't a perfect spectacle, but Spurs fans will walk away happy with this one. Three academy graduates, three goals, three points.

WHAT AN IMPACT

Just absolutely great to see two young Spurs academy players making the difference here.

They have absolutely taught their senior team-mates a lesson in how to drive through the opponents' defence, and have made the all-important impact - sealing Spurs' spot in the top eight.

Surely no way back for the visitors now.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-0 ELFSBORG (AJAYI)

WOW! That is some goal from the debutant. Academy graduates absolutely running the show!

The kind of incision that Spurs have been missing all night. Ajayi picks it up on the right flank, before racing infield, playing a lovely one-two with Scarlett, and nestling an inch-perfect effort into the near corner.

Excellent stuff, and that will be that.

GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 ELFSBORG (SCARLETT)

And there it is! Immediately from the bench, Scarlett gets the elusive opener!

That is seriously impressive for a man who has been shipped out on loan numerous times, he has bailed his seniors out, big time!

And to be fair, it is a lovveeellyyy ball in from Kulusevski. He drifts infield and uses that excellent left foot to just float one in.

Scarlett is there, racing onto it and slamming home a header into the corner.

Just four minutes after coming on. What an impact from the young man.

SURELY NOT ANOTHER BLOW FOR SPURS?

In a relatively low-key exchange, the ball is heading out for a throw and Dragusin swings a right leg to try and meet it.

But he gets no contact, and when he plants his foot back on the ground immediately holds his knee. The defender signals to the bench he needs some treatment. Hopefully this isn't too serious.

He does come back on, but immediately shakes his head and goes back down. This is a shame. He will certainly be making way - meanwhile, Postecoglou is beefing the fourth official.

Tottenham Hotspur - Leicester City Live - Premier League: Football Scores & Highlights - 26/01/2025  Eurosport COM

Ange Postecoglou has vowed to "keep fighting" as Tottenham Hotspur manager following a sobering 3-2 defeat to Everton on Sunday.

Strikes from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye along with Archie Gray’s own goal put The Toffees 3-0 in front at half-time, before Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison made the final scoreline more respectable.

Nonetheless, Spurs still succumbed to a 12th Premier League defeat of the season and have now lost their first three top-flight fixtures in 2025.

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However, the Australian remained defiant in his post-match interview and told Sky Sports he will "keep fighting".

"I certainly haven't lost any belief or determination to turn it around," he said.

"I think in the second half, the players showed they're not throwing in the towel either, so we'll figure out a way through this.

"They [the fans] will be disappointed with the situation we're in, and they're probably frustrated at our inability to get the results we need to change our fortunes in the league.

"So that's understandable. We're in control of it, it's not the supporters that are in control. It's the players and particularly me that are in control of it."

The Australian was quizzed on Tottenham’s activity in the January transfer window and he is confident that the right players will be brought in to ease the club’s injury crisis.

"I have no issue with the way the club's going about it, they're working hard trying to find solutions for us," he said.

"These players need help for sure and hopefully in the next 10 days we'll find a solution for them.

"It's really tricky, we're not the only ones in the market for players, but the club is working hard to find solutions."

When asked if losing to a side battling relegation diminishes belief, Postecoglou replied: "No it doesn't. When you look at the situation we're in, it'll eventually dissipate.

"We certainly hope and believe it will in terms of player availability, and then we give ourselves an opportunity to at least get some consistency in games and performance."

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We have grown accustomed to Premier League managers playing down the importance of big fixtures during the season, but Ange Postecoglou has gone against the grain by warning his Tottenham side of the importance of the north London derby.

Spurs travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on fierce rivals Arsenal on January 15 – with the action live on TNT Sports and discover+.

Tottenham started the gameweek in 12th position in the table, 16 points behind Mikel Arteta’s side – who are second to leaders Liverpool.

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Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the match, Postecoglou said: "If there’s territory involved that usually gives it an extra bit of spice. There’s definitely territory involved because there’s a piece of turf that people want to own.

"What I’ve never done is dismiss it as, ‘it’s just another game’, because it’s not, that’s the reality of it.

"We’re all sort of people who are still very much in our own communities and when you’re walking that’s the first thing people say to you so you know the significance of the game.

"There’s no point me going in there and saying, ‘boys just treat this like any other game’, because it’s not.

"There is a little bit more of an emotional presence in terms of you want the players to understand the ramifications of both the good and the bad, but also prepare themselves for the intensity, the tempo, the passion that exists for this fixture."

‘We are having a tough season’ - Postecoglou shoulders blame for Tottenham results

Video credit: SNTV

Postecoglou has faced a lot of pressure this season with his team struggling to find good form consistently against the backdrop of an excessive injury list.

Although he is convinced there is "light at the end of the tunnel" on the injury front, the Australian coach will be without Timo Werner due to a hamstring injury.

The German striker suffered the issue during their unconvincing FA Cup third round 3-0 victory against National League side Tamworth, who took Tottenham to extra time.

Timo Werner was injured against Tamworth in the FA Cup third round

Image credit: Getty Images

However, Spurs will have Richarlison available again.

Speaking about the issues his team has faced this season, Postecoglou said: "We’ll get through it. It’s like every storm, every storm passes but it’s how you get through that storm that counts.

"Whatever we face in the future, we’ve got a reference point. We can say we were at bare bones and we didn’t give in, we kept going."

Asked if his management style is to blame for the amount of injuries Tottenham have racked up, he said: "The way we play is on the edge and I've purposefully done it that way because I’m a really big believer that if we’re going to achieve what I want us to achieve, we’ve got to do things a bit differently.

"There’s no point us trying to be like anybody else because in that race there are clubs that are years ahead of us. We’ve got to try and do things a little bit differently but there’s risk in that."

Postecoglou backs Spurs to 'come out stronger' after injury-hit period

Video credit: Eurosport

How to watch the north London derby

Arsenal face Tottenham in the 197th edition of the north London derby on Wednesday evening.

Coverage will get underway on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ at 18:30 ahead of a 20:00 kick off.

The Gunners will be hoping the match against their fierce rivals can breathe new life into their title challenge, with Mikel Arteta's side currently six points behind Liverpool.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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Lucas Bergvall handed Tottenham the advantage in their Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Liverpool, with his first goal for Spurs giving his side a 1-0 win in the first leg, but his effort left The Reds extremely frustrated.

There was disappointment in the Liverpool camp that the Swedish teenager was still on the pitch to slot Dominic Solanke’s pull-back past Alisson at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Just two minutes before the already-booked Bergvall found the net, he chopped down Kostas Tsimikas but avoided a second yellow card.

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Referee Stuart Attwell, who earlier made history when announcing a VAR decision to the crowd, did not pull out a card and it proved costly for Arne Slot’s side.

Tsimikas required treatment, which left his team down to 10 players as Tottenham broke at pace to score the only goal of the tie.

The Liverpool boss was quick to confront fourth official Tim Robinson, while Slot’s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, was shown a yellow card for his reaction.

Captain Virgil van Dijk was also left baffled by Bergvall being allowed to stay on the pitch.

"Listen, I think it was quite obvious that it was going to be a second yellow," he told Sky Sports. "It was pretty clear.

"A minute later he [Bergvall] scores the winner but listen, it is what it is.

"He [referee Stuart Attwell] made a mistake in my opinion, and I told him that. He thinks maybe he didn’t but it was quite obvious, I think, and everyone on the sideline knew exactly that it was supposed to be a yellow.

"The fact is that he should’ve been off. There’s a linesman there, there’s a fourth official there, there’s VAR, there’s a referee and he doesn’t get a second yellow.

"I’m not saying this is the reason that we lost tonight but it was a big moment in the game."

It had a big influence - Slot

Slot had calmed down by the time he spoke to the media after the match, and gave a measured response when questioned about the game-changing moment.

"It had a big influence on the game," Slot said. "It didn’t feel to me as if we were ever going to lose here.

"You never know, in a moment, things can change and this is what we saw.

"The decision he made had a lot of impact on the result tonight and there’s nothing else I can say about it."

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was lacking in sympathy for his opponents as he said it was a situation his team had been on the other side of on many occasions.

Asked if Bergvall was lucky to be on the pitch, Postecoglou said: "He wasn’t.

"Those are the rules. We’ve had to cop it for the last six weeks and abided by the rules."

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Yesterday at 08:52

Rodrigo Bentancur stretchered off in Tottenham Hotspur's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool

Updated 08/01/2025 at 21:17 GMT

Tottenham and Liverpool met in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The match was paused early in the first half as Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur went down without any other players around him after he tried to head a corner towards goal. Players urged medics to rush onto the pitch with the Uruguayan unable to return to his feet.

Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off during Tottenham's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool

Image credit: Getty Images

Rodrigo Bentancur is "conscious and talking" after being stretchered off during the first half of Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool.

The Uruguayan midfielder attempted to attack a corner in the sixth minute but after failing to connect with a diving header, he remained sprawled out, face down, in the penalty box.

There were no players challenging Bentancur when he went to ground.

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Players from both teams urgently called for medical staff to treat the Spurs player and, eight minutes later, he was carried from the field with Brennan Johnson replacing him as a substitute.

At half-time, Tottenham wrote on social media: "We can confirm Rodrigo is conscious, talking and will go to hospital for further checks."

Liverpool replied: "We're all thinking of you, Rodrigo. Speedy recovery."

Bentancur had only recently returned to action after serving a seven-match ban.

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ANGE SAYS EVEN MO SALAH WOULD SUFFER PLAYING IN HIS INJURY-HIT SPURS SIDE

Ange Postecoglou believes Mohamed Salah - who is enjoying a stellar season so far - would struggle to replicate his remarkable form if he had been featuring in his injury-hit Tottenham team.

LIVERPOOL MAKE FOUR CHANGES FROM MAN UNITED DRAW AS TAA IS DROPPED TO THE BENCH

Right back Conor Bradley comes into the starting line-up with Trent Alexander-Arnold - who is being heavily linked with Real Madrid and endured a horror show against The Red Devils on Sunday - named among the substitutes.

Jarell Quansah is in for Ibrahima Konate at centre back while Kostas Tsimikas replaces Andy Robertson at left back.

The hosts make a trio of alterations to the side that lost to Newcastle last time out.

Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky gets an instant run-out between the sticks with Rodrigo Bentancur and Heung-Min Son also featuring.

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League, as well as exclusive Premier League games across the 2024-25 season.

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Any matches that fall within the Saturday blackout window in the UK cannot be shown live. The blackout window prohibits matches being shown on television between 14:45 and 17:15 in the UK.

Ange Postecoglou believes Mohamed Salah would struggle to replicate his remarkable form if he played for his injury-hit Tottenham side.

The Liverpool forward has scored 18 goals and registered 13 assists during a sensational first 20 games of the Premier League season.

Postecoglou's side face The Reds in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday evening, with Spurs on a dismal run of three defeats in four fixtures.

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The Australian believes Salah is one of the best players in the world, but that he would not have enjoyed his recent purple patch if he was in a Spurs shirt.

"Mo is a world-class player, but if you put him in our team now I'm not sure he'll have that same level of performance because of the situation we're in as a group," said Postecoglou.

"His attacking play, who do you need? You need a team that's kind of in good form, creating opportunities, playing on the front foot, having a really solid foundation of a defence that is cohesive.

"None of these things exist at the moment."

Postecoglou excited by Son's contract extension, says goal is to win silverware before he leaves

Video credit: SNTV

Postecoglou is under pressure with his Spurs side currently languishing in 12th, 22 points behind Liverpool.

In stark contrast, the league leaders are flying high ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final, having not lost a game in any competition since a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in September.

Spurs triggered an option to extend Son Heung-min's current deal until the summer of 2026 this week, and Postecoglou believes that his numbers would be significantly more impressive if he had as many opportunities as Salah.

"You've always got to give context. He [Salah] is playing in a fantastic team that are flying at the moment," he added.

"I'd hazard to say that if you put Son Heung-min in Liverpool's team, I reckon his goalscoring return would be decent.

"It's hard for our players at the moment, they're trying awfully hard to be the best they can be.

"But when we're at our best, I still think you'll see Sonny's return, in terms of his ability to score goals and be really effective for us.

"I don't think that's diminished at all."

- - -

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