Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool: Lucas Bergvall’s header works as young Spurs show remarkable maturity

Bergvall was the center of attention with a confident, elegant, exuberant – Liverpool would suggest too cheeky a performance in midfield.

This was a defining moment for the young Swede, creative and competitive, as he had the most chances of Spurs’ players – three from open play, as well as scoring the winner.

Bergvall emphatically finished past Alisson with four minutes remaining to join illustrious company as, at 18 years and 341 days, he is the club’s youngest League Cup goalscorer since Gareth Bale, who was 18 years and 72 days when he scored against Middlesbrough in September 2007.

The £8.5m paid to Djurgarden in February 2024 – before loaning him back to the Swedish club for the rest of the season – already looks like a steal. On a performance like this, just his fourth start for the club, it’s easy to see why Barcelona also wanted to sign him.

Equally notable was the story of Kinsky, who only got his work permit on Monday after arriving from Slavia Prague but was thrown straight in by Postecoglou, who is without injured Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster, who opted for the youngster over Brandon Austin.

Kinsky showed remarkable confidence with the ball at his feet, finishing off a catch early on after some neat juggling, always willing to take the positive opportunity – although he did slip in the first half when he slipped as he went to pick up Cody Gakpo’s routine shot.

And he responded superbly when put to the test as Liverpool finally pressed late on, rushing from his goal to block Darwin Nunez’s angled shot before producing his best save of the night, reacting to dive away to his right to deflect the attacker’s header. the closing seconds.

It was a dream introduction, admittedly a gamble from Postecoglou, but one that worked, the keeper falling into the arms of an admirer at the final whistle as tears were shed.