Ливерпүүл талбайдаа Тоттенхэмийг 3-1-ийн харьцаатай буулган авч, Carabao Cup-ын дөрөвдүгээр шатанд шалгарлаа.
Тоглолтын 21 дэх минутад Алексис Мак Аллистер гоолын салхийг хагалж, Ливерпүүлд тэргүүлэл авчирсан бол хоёрдугаар хагас эхлээд 10 минут өнгөрч байхад Коди Гакпо тооны харьцааг 2-0 болгон холдуулжээ. Тоттенхэмээс Конор Галлахер булангийн цохилтоос ирсэн дамжуулалтыг мөргөж, нэг гоолыг нөхсөн ч Доминик Собослайн 25 ярдын зайнаас хийсэн хүчтэй цохилт Ливерпүүлийн ялалтыг баталгаажуулсан байна.
Ливерпүүлийн бүрэлдэхүүнд Алексис Мак Аллистер төвд тоглолтыг удирдаж, Гакпогийн гоолд оновчтой дамжуулалт өгөн шилдэг тоглолтоо үзүүллээ. Түүнчлэн залуу тоглогчид болох Трей Ньони, Жеймс Макконнелл, Льюис Коума болон Рио Нгумоха нар гарааны бүрэлдэхүүнд багтаж, тоглолтын турш идэвхтэй оролцсон нь багийн ерөнхий бүтцэд эерэг нөлөө үзүүлэв.
Тоттенхэмийн хувьд Роберто Де Зерби найман тоглогчийг сэлгэж, шинэчилсэн бүрэлдэхүүнээр талбайд гарсан ч гоолын боломжуудаа ашиглаж чадсангүй. Омар Мармуш болон Лукас Бергвалл нар хэд хэдэн аюултай довтолгоог өрнүүлсэн ч Ливерпүүлийн хаалгач Жоржи Мамардашвили найдвартай тоглолт үзүүлж, Тоттенхэмийн итгэл найдварыг тасалсан юм.
Ливерпүүл есдүгээр сарын 20-нд Премьер лигийн хүрээнд Борнмуттай айлын талбайд тоглох бол Тоттенхэм есдүгээр сарын 19-нд Астон Виллатай талбайдаа хүч үзнэ.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
Dominik Szoboszlai’s sensational strike sealed Liverpool’s passage into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham, with all three Liverpool goals particularly impressive.
With Tottenham searching for a late equaliser the Hungary international connected sweetly on the half volley with Cody Gakpo’s pass looped from 25 yards out giving Martin Dubravka no chance.
Both sides made a host of changes and Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for Liverpool after 21 minutes.
Cody Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s advantage ten minutes after the interval. Tottenham were given a lifeline when Conor Gallagher headed in from close range to convert a Mateus Fernandez corner but the result was put beyond doubt by Szoboszlai’s stunning strike.
The Athletic’s Andy Jones, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Anantaajith Raghuraman assess the action…
Is Alexis Mac Allister Liverpool’s best midfielder?
Alexis Mac Allister could not have placed his strike any better when he gave Liverpool the lead after 21 minutes, and his performances to begin the campaign have been similarly on-point.
There was uncertainty both on and off the pitch surrounding the Argentina international heading into the new season. He publicly spoke about Liverpool informing him that the club was not in a position to offer him a new contract, there was interest in him from elsewhere and the big question was whether he could return to the levels he produced in his first two seasons at the club after a significant drop off in 2025-26.
The 27-year-old, who has less than two years remaining on his current deal, has looked refreshed and rejuvenated and he looks to be getting back to his best.
The midfield problem has been a key discussion point since the start of the season, but even more so after the disappointing 0-0 draw against Fulham. Mac Allister began that game on the bench, replacing Ryan Gravenberch and Liverpool looked much more balanced after his introduction.
Against Tottenham he alongside youngsters Trey Nyoni and James McConnell and after some initial structural difficulties in the opening 15 minutes, he led by example through both his goal and general performance. He was sharp on the ball, providing the assist for Gakpo to double the lead, and alert out of possession.
One moment in the first half saw him shield the ball in the middle of the pitch from Rodrgio Bentancur and emerge with it. He looked like the Mac Allister of old, and Iraola will be hoping this level of performance can continue as he currently looks like Liverpool’s best option in the midfield two.
Andrew Jones
How did Liverpool’s youngsters get on?
Andoni Iraola’s time at Bournemouth saw him develop a track record of providing the ideal platform for youngsters to flourish. It is what helped them improve season on season despite losing players.
Alex Scott, Antoine Semenyo, Dean Huijsen, Eli Junior Kroupi, Milos Kerkez and most recently Rayan are among the prominent names to have starred under Iraola on the south coast. To that extent, the performances of Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas, as well as the youngest but more seasoned Rio Ngumoha, will offer plenty of encouragement.
McConnell, the oldest of them all at 22, did not look overawed at any point against Premier League players, offering physicality and ball-carrying. His run slicing through Spurs’ midfield for Gakpo’s goal stood out.
Koumas pressed with intensity to harry Marcos Senesi and Tosin Adarabioyo when Spurs looked to build out from the back. The 20-year-old’s run out wide was crucial to Mac Allister’s opener as it freed Gakpo to drift infield and find Ngumoha, who had one of his better performances on the right wing. His hold-up play when Liverpool opted for a more direct approach was impressive too.
Behind them, 19-year-old Nyoni’s passes through Spurs’ press were encouraging. Line-breaking passes from deep are not the biggest strength of Liverpool’s first-choice midfielders, so Iraola will value what Nyoni offers, while he was able to shrug off defenders when put under pressure too.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Did Spurs at least look better in front of goal?
It is no secret what Spurs’ big issue is right now. They are yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season, and while they have found the net in this competition, they did not do so enough here at Anfield to make it into the next round.
The issue is not that Spurs are short of good players, having spent so much money in the summer. Nor are they especially defensive or cautious, with a manager in Roberto De Zerbi who wants to play the right way. But it feels like they are having a confidence crisis in front of goal.
It was a largely frustrating game for Omar Marmoush (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Spurs put together some good moves here, impressively so given De Zerbi made eight changes. But Lucas Bergvall shot straight at Giorgi Mamardashvili early on, Mohammed Kudus volleyed wide and their attacking play in the first half came to nothing. Liverpool were not as wasteful and were able to turn their good spells into goals.
Tottenham were livelier as they chased the game, driven forward by Omar Marmoush, and pulled one back when Conor Gallagher was free at the far post to head in Mateus Fernandes’ corner. They pushed hard to find an equaliser, Marmoush forcing another great save from Mamardashvili when the game was in the balance. It was a better all-round attacking performance than some we have seen from Spurs this season.
It still feels as if Tottenham just need one big win, one confidence catalyst, to unblock themselves.
Jack Pitt-Brooke
What did Iraola say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did De Zerbi say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Liverpool?
Sunday, September 20: Bournemouth (Away), Premier League, 2pm BST, 9am ET
What next for Spurs?
Saturday, September 19: Aston Villa (Home), Premier League, 12.30pm BST, 7.30am ET
