Man of the Match: ‘Brilliant’ Liverpool Star Keeps Arne Slot’s Side in Semi-Final Tie Against Spurs | OneFootball

Tottenham 1 – 0 Liverpool Caraba Cup Semi-final 1st Leg Man of the Match

Virgil van Dijk

Following Arsenal’s surprise 0-2 loss against Newcastle in their 1st leg tie of the other semi-final, the expectation built towards this next semi-final with a desire from both teams to make their mark on this match. With Tottenham harbouring a plethora of injuries and their under-pressure manager, Ange Postecoglou, having to patch much of his team together, the intriguing battle White Hart Lane was always likely to need one or two players to stand out and take the game by the scruff of the EFL neck.

Despite the disappointment of the first-leg defeat, it cannot be ignored how vital and influential the Reds celebrated skipper, Virgil van Dijk, was again this evening. As a veteran defender who is still the undoubted best centre-half in world football, his physicality and prowess on the pitch allow so many others to slide into poor form, which is so often overlooked due to the brilliance of the legendary Dutchman.

When shots needed blocking, lines needed holding, balls needed heading to teammates needed rollicking, the giant defensive leader was the man who always took a step forward and put his body on the line. With a ferocious persona and a clear desire to win, this season stands as yet another example of his all-time status in the history of the game. Liverpool was not good and much of the roster of overworked players appeared tired and frustrated. If not for the 6ft 4-inch frame of the former Celtic man, this game would have crept away from the current EFL title holders, however, with just a 0-1 disadvantage to take back to Anfield in a few weeks, this tie is still very much a winnable affair and that is down to this games man of the match, Virgil van Dijk.

Next up is the FA Cup, where no senior players should be near that starting eleven, certainly not those that are considered as the first-team elite. The need to make strong decisions is surely upon the Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, who must protect players like his famous captain as well as his Egyptian King, Mohamed  Salah. All thoughts and tactical considerations must be moved to next Tuesday when a trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League awaits.

As for the EFL Cup, this tie is still very much alive because of one man.

Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction;

Tottenham 2 – 2 Liverpool