Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham: Mac Allister and Gakpo Shine Before Szoboszlai Stunner Seals Cup Win

Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after overcoming Tottenham at Anfield, with Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all on target.

Liverpool progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, on a night when Andoni Iraola was rewarded for making sweeping changes to his starting XI.

Alexis Mac Allister produced an excellent opener midway through the first half before Cody Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s advantage shortly after the interval. Conor Gallagher gave Tottenham hope and set up an uncomfortable conclusion for the hosts, but Giorgi Mamardashvili made a crucial late intervention before Dominik Szoboszlai ended the contest with a stunning long-range strike.

For a Liverpool side still searching for greater consistency at the beginning of Iraola’s tenure, progression accompanied by significant squad rotation represented a positive outcome.

Mac Allister Delivers Again for Liverpool

With Iraola making 10 changes, Mac Allister was one of the senior figures tasked with providing Liverpool’s inexperienced side with control and quality.

He did exactly that.

There had been opportunities at both ends during an open beginning to the contest. Lucas Bergvall tested Mamardashvili before Lewis Koumas was denied by Martin Dubravka, but it was Mac Allister who produced the decisive moment after 21 minutes.

The Argentina international moved into an advanced position before firing an excellent effort into the top corner.

It continued an encouraging run in front of goal following his strike against Atletico Madrid and offered further evidence that Mac Allister is becoming increasingly influential under Iraola.

His ability to arrive around the edge of the penalty area could become particularly important. Mac Allister possesses the technique to punish opponents from those areas, and Liverpool appear increasingly willing to give him opportunities to move beyond midfield.

His contribution was not restricted to his goal either, with his experience particularly valuable alongside some of Liverpool’s younger players.

Speaking afterwards, Mac Allister praised the attitude of the academy players and suggested they could have a significant part to play across the course of the season.

Gakpo Continues Productive Liverpool Form

Liverpool strengthened their position shortly after the interval through Gakpo.

The Dutchman found the space required to lash home Liverpool’s second, leaving Tottenham facing a considerable task at 2-0 down.

Gakpo’s numbers during the opening weeks have been impressive, with two goals and three assists from five appearances.

That productivity is particularly notable following the uncertainty surrounding his future during the transfer window.

Liverpool ultimately retained a player capable of operating in several attacking positions, and his early-season contributions have demonstrated the value of doing so.

There have occasionally been questions over Gakpo’s consistency since his arrival at Anfield, but his current form suggests a player operating with confidence.

His combination of strength, technical ability and intelligent movement continues to make him a useful option within Iraola’s attacking structure.

Iraola Rotation Pays Off

The scale of Liverpool’s rotation was arguably the most significant aspect of the evening.

With Premier League matters returning against Bournemouth on Sunday, Iraola opted to make 10 changes and placed considerable trust in the wider squad.

That approach always carried some risk.

Tottenham created chances, particularly during the first half, and Liverpool were not always in complete control. However, the ability to progress while protecting a number of regular starters represents an important outcome.

The Carabao Cup has frequently provided Liverpool with a pathway for younger players to accumulate meaningful senior minutes, and this was another example.

Matches against Premier League opposition offer a much more useful assessment than academy football alone.

Liverpool’s youngsters were forced to manage different phases of the contest, including a difficult period during the final quarter when Tottenham dramatically increased the pressure.

That experience could prove valuable later in the campaign.

Gallagher Gives Tottenham Hope

What appeared to be a relatively comfortable Liverpool victory suddenly became considerably less certain when Gallagher headed Tottenham back into the contest shortly before the 70-minute mark.

At 2-1, the momentum shifted.

Tottenham began pushing Liverpool deeper and created sufficient pressure to make Iraola’s side uncomfortable.

It highlighted an area Liverpool will need to improve. Having established a two-goal advantage at Anfield, the hosts would ideally have managed the closing stages with greater authority.

Instead, Spurs remained alive until the final moments.

Mamardashvili was eventually required to produce an excellent late save to prevent Tottenham from drawing level.

For the Georgian goalkeeper, opportunities such as this are important. Liverpool’s strength in the position means every appearance carries significance, and his intervention proved one of the key moments of the match.

Had Tottenham scored, the entire complexion of the evening could have changed.

Szoboszlai Produces Spectacular Final Word

Liverpool ultimately made sure there would be no dramatic Tottenham comeback.

And they did so in remarkable fashion.

Szoboszlai met the ball from around 30 yards and unleashed a ferocious volley beyond Dubravka, producing a goal worthy of deciding almost any contest.

It was a spectacular conclusion and turned a tense 2-1 advantage into a far more emphatic-looking 3-1 scoreline.

The Hungarian possesses exceptional ball-striking ability, something Liverpool supporters have witnessed regularly since his arrival, but this was another level.

With Tottenham pushing for an equaliser, Szoboszlai’s goal ended the contest immediately.

Liverpool Progress With Plenty of Positives

There were imperfections in Liverpool’s performance.

Tottenham created chances, Liverpool allowed their opponents back into the match from a strong position and Mamardashvili was required to make an important late save.

But context matters.

Iraola changed almost his entire starting XI, several younger players gained important experience and Liverpool still eliminated Premier League opposition.

Mac Allister continued his encouraging individual form, Gakpo added another goal to an impressive start to the campaign and Szoboszlai provided the moment of the evening.

For Liverpool, the immediate objective was straightforward: reach the next round while protecting the squad ahead of more important challenges.

They achieved exactly that.

The performance may have provided Iraola with areas to address, but a 3-1 victory, further evidence of Liverpool’s squad depth and another Carabao Cup tie to come makes this a productive night at Anfield.