Liverpool knocked Tottenham Hotspur out of the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Monday, winning 3-1 despite fielding 10 changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Fulham at the weekend, with a stunning late strike from Dominik Szoboszlai sealing the victory.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring after 21 minutes, curling home with the inside of his foot after Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha combined to work the ball into his path, with a deflection off Destiny Udogie helping it on its way. Gakpo doubled the lead in the 54th minute with a thumping finish after an incisive Mac Allister assist. Conor Gallagher headed Tottenham back into the game in the 69th minute, converting a Matheus Fernandes corner, before Szoboszlai settled the tie in the first minute of stoppage time.
Szoboszlai's goal was the standout moment of the night. The Hungarian midfielder chested down a loose ball, let it bounce once, and unleashed a strike from 30 yards that flew past the Tottenham goalkeeper. Defender Ronald Araujo slid across the turf on his knees in celebration as though he had scored it himself, while Alexander Isak put his hands to his head in disbelief.
Szoboszlai put his finger to his ear after scoring, a gesture that appeared aimed at critics of his performance in the weekend draw with Fulham.
"The goal is a worldie, outstanding," said Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola. "The thing with Dom is before shooting, you trust him. With other players you might think it is too far away. With Dom, everyone is thinking he might score."
Man of the match Lewis Koumas said of the strike: "It was scary, not many hit a ball like Dom."
Mac Allister and Gakpo lead the way
Mac Allister and Gakpo were the main architects of the win, with both players having points to prove at the club this season. Mac Allister recently said he was "very sad" with Liverpool for not putting a new contract on the table, with the club saying they were not in a position to extend his deal. His goal against Tottenham was his second in two starts since making those comments, following a goal against Atletico Madrid six days earlier.
Gakpo, meanwhile, came close to leaving Liverpool in the summer, with both Manchester City and Tottenham at different points confident of signing him before the move fell through. He has since scored two goals and provided four assists in his first five appearances of the season.
Koumas and Liverpool's academy graduates impress
Iraola's trust in youth was also on display, with 20-year-old Koumas earning the man-of-the-match award. Iraola described him as "contagious," praising the Chester-born forward's energy and work rate leading the line. Koumas spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull City, where he came off the bench in the League One play-off final. Midfielder James McConnell also impressed.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili became the first top-flight goalkeeper to concede against Tottenham this season and was at fault for flapping at a cross in the build-up to Gallagher's goal. But he made two important saves, denying Lucas Bergvall early on and Omar Marmoush late in the game to protect Liverpool's lead. Marmoush was also denied by a fingertip save at another stage, while substitute Savio, another Manchester City player on loan, dragged a shot wide.
Pressure mounts on De Zerbi
The defeat piles further pressure on Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, whose side had already been blanked four times in the Premier League this season before the cup exit. De Zerbi said he had won matches while playing worse than his side did against Liverpool.
"We have to shoot more times, we have to shoot better, we have to finish better the clear situations, but we are sorry for the result, disappointed, frustrated for the result," De Zerbi said. "I think it's unfair, but we have to accept it and to be stronger than this unlucky moment."
Liverpool progress to the next round of the Carabao Cup, having beaten Tottenham despite the 10 changes made to the side that struggled against Fulham at the weekend.
