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Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning strike sealed a 3-1 win for Liverpool over Tottenham in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put the Reds in control before the hour but Conor Gallagher pulled one back for Roberto De Zerbi's team and it took a sensational fingertip save from Giorgi Mamardashvili to deny Omar Marmoush an equaliser.

There was no stopping Szoboszlai's stoppage-time effort, however, arrowed beyond Martin Dubravka. Andoni Iraola's Liverpool progress while the Spurs supporters have to be content with bagging their first goal of the campaign against top-flight opposition.

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Key moments at Anfield

Lucas Bergvall really should have slotted Spurs in front early in the game but his close-range shot found the legs of Mamardashvili instead. And Liverpool punished them for that wastefulness when Mac Allister curled the ball high into the net for the opener.

Mohammed Kudus contrived to volley high and wide after smart work by Destiny Udogie before half-time. Liverpool were just more clinical, summed up by the manner in which Gakpo slammed in a second in front of the Kop to cap an excellent Liverpool move.

The Dutchman was a target for Tottenham in the summer. He currently has more Premier League goals this season than they do. Out of the Carabao Cup and with Richarlison out of the squad, De Zerbi's only consolation was a spirited effort at Anfield.

For Andoni Iraola, he will be encouraged by the energy and the quality in evidence. Intensity appeared to be an issue against Fulham on Saturday but the 10 changes actually helped with Lewis Koumas eager and Trey Nyoni producing a mature display in midfield.

And when Szoboszlai can do that, it makes everything easier.

Iraola: Szoboszlai goal a 'worldie'

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola speaking in the press conference:

"Three goals we scored were very good goals; the origin of the goals for the first and second ones was also very important for us. The third one is a worldie. With other players you are thinking it is too far. With Dom you are thinking he might score."

Player of the match: Lewis Koumas

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola speaking about Lewis Koumas in the press conference:

"I said in the week and say it for a reason; I see it in training every day. The energy that he shows is contagious for the rest. When they see the ones up front doing it, they are forced to go from behind."

Analysis: Positives for both teams

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp on Liverpool:

"That's the best I've seen them. Obviously, Tottenham played into their hands as they're trying to play out from the back. But the number of times they (Liverpool) won it back because they were so quick and aggressive to get after them. That's what Andoni did at Bournemouth and that's what he's trying to do at Liverpool. It will take time, but they'll certainly get it."

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp on Tottenham:

"From Tottenham's point of view, there were positives. They had a sharpness to their game. Bergvall did well. There's lots to look forward to for the weekend. It was a better performance. On another day, they could have had two or three goals. Liverpool just had enough."

De Zerbi: We need things to click

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi speaking to Sky Sports:

"We created chances to win the game. It's not a very good moment, but I believe in my players, and I told them five minutes ago to stay calm.

"We need a click. I don't know if we are able to make this click Saturday, but playing like this and believing in ourselves and our style of play, I think we'll win many games and score many goals because the qualities of my players is very high.

"There are many, many positives. We are sorry, disappointed and frustrated for the results. I think we didn't deserve to lose, but it's the first season. We are building totally different things with me.

"I believe in my players, this project. I have no doubts. I believe in this club, but now we are not so lucky. It's not good to say too many 'ifs' but we played very well this evening."

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Tottenham’s winless and goalless start to the Premier League season continued with a 0-0 draw at home to unbeaten Everton.

It is the first time Spurs have failed to score in any of their first four league games of a season, while it is now over 400 minutes since their last Premier League goal.

Following last weekend's goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, it was another toothless display from Roberto De Zerbi's new-look, expensively assembled side, who were booed off at the full-time whistle.

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A disgruntled home crowd watched their side have just two shots on target - the first a weak second-half effort from Mateus Fernandes met with ironic cheers - create one big chance and register a paltry expected goals of 0.64.

Everton had the better moments to earn their first away league win since February, but ex-Spurs winger Brennan Johnson blazed a great second-half chance over, while earlier, Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky nearly gifted Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall an opener.

The Toffees weathered Spurs' early storm as the home side had four shots in the opening 10 minutes, with Jan Paul van Hecke missing a great close-range chance.

But the defender's fifth-minute effort proved to be Tottenham's best opportunity as De Zerbi's side became the first Spurs team to go on a four-game goalless run in 20 years.

It was also the first goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League (140th game), and the first time that Spurs have drawn 0-0 in a home game in the competition since September 2017.

Redknapp: Spurs' goalless run 'absolutely diabolical'

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:

"After spending £300m, I didn't think there would be a problem scoring goals. But to not score in six hours of football is absolutely diabolical.

"For the first 20 minutes, I thought that this is what I want to see. There was a moment when Fernandes had a shot and the whole crowd celebrated. It's not great.

"The connection with the fans and the players is not there. I don't know when they are going to get their first win. It might go on for longer, but I do still see some positives.

"It cannot stay this way with what is at their disposal. There are things that I don't like. Robertson was your left-back and your wide left player because Marmoush wanted to come inside. That balance didn't really work, so you are lopsided with what you're trying to do.

"Trying to get the best squad is what De Zerbi has to solve. The midfield balance also isn't right. You've got to find a way of getting a Kudus into the ten, or Maddison if he gets fit. I'm not sure how Kulusevski's going to be but when he's fit you've got to get him in.

"Even I'm looking and thinking 'how would I change it?' There are more questions than answers. He tried everything today. He couldn't find it. The quality wasn't there, but they have got quality players."

De Zerbi explains Tel exchange

De Zerbi was involved in an exchange at full-time on the pitch with Mathys Tel, who was brought on as a second-half substitute.

The Italian explained at his post-match press conference: "I coached him on the pitch. The body shape: he's a striker; the striker can't play with the shoulder on the goal.

"If we are playing with (James) Maddison, (Mohammed) Kudus and Savio, he has to play as a striker, and the striker has to look at the goal, or for the cross of (Andy) Robertson. He has to stay inside.

"He started as a striker; now he's playing as a winger, but he started his career as a striker.

"But I love Mathys as a player, as a guy; that is not a problem."

Moyes pleased with Toffees' resilience but wanted more

Everton boss David Moyes:

"I wanted much more from the team, but I told them about coming here.

"We've not had a great record here. Only a couple months ago we missed out on Europe here. I generally felt that we had to come here and show a bit more.

"Tottenham were so good for 20 minutes. They put us under so much pressure. We found it difficult to escape from it. We created a couple chances ourselves, but we didn't play well enough today when we had the ball.

"We know exactly where we're short and what we could do better at and what we'd like to do better. But there'll be some games where we might have to play that way just to get ourselves through. It wasn't the plan, we were forced into it by Tottenham. I thought we did a really good job of being resilient."

The key moments from north London...

HALF TIME: No shot on target for Tottenham, who fail to score in the first half for a 26th Premier League game since the start of last season.

Millions spent, but where is the goalscorer?

Analysis from Sky Sports' Callum Bishop:

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out where Tottenham's biggest concern lies right now. You can't win games if you don't score goals. That's why Spurs haven't won a league game this season, after going 400 minutes without finding the net.

"They have so many creative players, all of whom were on the pitch against the Toffees. Yet the man who they need to score the bulk of their goals was anonymous. Or at the very least, wasn't found.

"Dominic Solanke's fitness for Tottenham feels imperative. As the only out and out number nine available to De Zerbi, the Englishman has to be picked when fit. Purely because it seems Spurs don't have a choice.

"However, whether it be rustiness following his latest setbacks or another reason, Solanke didn't offer anywhere near enough as the number nine. He managed just 19 touches. That's less than Kinsky in goal.

"More worryingly, he had zero shots. If the man whose job is to find the net isn't even letting fly at it, no wonder Spurs are struggling in the final third.

"Only De Zerbi can answer if the reason for this is because his team-mates aren't utlising him enough, or if Solanke can't be relied upon to be the replacement to Harry Kane. Of course, replacing Kane is practically impossible. But, in the three years since he left for Germany, Solanke is the only one Spurs have splashed the cash on to fill his shoes.

"While reinforcements were clearly needed across the pitch after last season, the fact a fitter, more reliable striker wasn't on the agenda is a concern. And it's biting Spurs now. They can't get an improvement until January now, so De Zerbi has to find a way to get Solanke more involved."

What the result means and next fixtures...

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Spurs may have failed to win any of their first three Premier League games this season, but summer signing Matheus Fernandes is convinced he has joined a squad set to start fighting for trophies.

The £85m midfielder was wanted by a list of clubs after impressing for West Ham last season, with Man Utd keen on a deal but ultimately unable to go head-to-head with Spurs on the fee.

For Fernandes, it was his conversations with head coach Roberto De Zerbi which persuaded him the north London project was for him.

"I spoke with the Mister and he was the key for this decision," Fernandes told Sky Sports ahead of the Saturday Night Football clash with Everton.

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"You can feel when you speak with him, the energy, the passion about football.

"He spoke with me, he spoke with my dad, he spoke with my mum. So it was not just about me, it was about the people around me. He said to my dad, 'we'll take care' [of] me.

"He's a top manager. You can feel on the pitch, off the pitch as well. And I'm very happy to work with him."

Fernandes made his feelings for De Zerbi clear to the Spurs boss himself when the deal was done.

"The first day of the pre-season, I met him and he was very happy. I was very happy as well for playing for him. I said, 'Look, I chose Tottenham because one of the biggest parts was you'."

It wasn't just De Zerbi's way with words. The Italian's style of football also impressed Fernandes. "For me as a midfielder, I like so much," he said.

Fernandes believes the quality of the Spurs squad can raise his own level of performance, too.

"I believe that I can be a much better player than I was last season," said the 22-year-old Portuguese, who recorded three goals and four assists in the Premier League for the Hammers.

"If you look at the squad, it's a big team with big players, important players, players with experience, players with a lot of quality. So, when you play with better players, I think you play better. So, I believe that I can be much better."

Spurs' players have been unable to turn that perception into more than one point so far. But, despite substantial criticism in the early weeks of the season, Fernandes is full of belief the team will soon start to prove their doubters wrong - and deliver in a significant way.

"I know what it's like: when you win, you are the best. When you lose, you are the worst," he said.

"We just focus on us. If you believe in the club, if you believe in the manager, you know that you need to take some time to learn the timings, everything tactical, and when you arrive there, it's like ketchup. It starts spilling."

Fernandes' first two seasons in English football have ended in relegation, at Southampton and then West Ham. But he is at Tottenham to win.

"This is one of the reasons that I came here, to play for winning something," he said.

"We want to win the games, we want to fight for the titles and, with this squad, it's normal that we want to fight for the titles.

"Now, we didn't win the last three games, so things need to calm. We need to take time. And then, like I said, it's like ketchup, when you win one game, it's going to be more easy."

Fernandes, his Spurs colleagues and the club's supporters will hope that starts on Saturday.