Liverpool Echo

New Richarlison escape route emerges as Tottenham reject new offer for ex-Everton star  Liverpool Echo

There is no analysing a goal like Dominik Szoboszlai's for Liverpool in the pouring rain on Tuesday night. You simply cannot account for a strike of the quality that ripped into the back of Martin Dubravka's net to put any hopes of a Tottenham Hotspur revival to bed, the Hungary captain ending the contest with a moment that will live long in the collective memory at Anfield.

Similar goes for Giorgi Mamardashvili's stunning save against Omar Marmoush, the Georgian goalkeeper's reach, strength and reflexes nothing short of world class to claw away a heavily-deflected effort that looked certain to draw the scores level.

In truth, all three of Liverpool's goals in the 3-1 win, which set up a fourth-round clash with Xabi Alonso's Chelsea, were memorable moments in their own right, and this was a game defined by its moments rather than a convincing 90-minute performance from the Reds.

Nevertheless, Andoni Iraola saw plenty he enjoyed from his rotated side, and took time to praise the efforts of his fringe players in his post-match press conference.

"I was happy for them," Iraola said. "In different positions, different demands. But I think the best thing is probably that they were dead when I subbed them; Trey [Nyoni] was cramping, Rio [Ngumoha] couldn't have run a lot more, [James] McConnell the same.

"When this happens, it's because you've given us what you've got. They have especially been very, very energetic, with the willingness of winning the duels, making them feel their presence. I was happy for them."

After an uninspired performance against Fulham in which Liverpool looked short of legs and ideas, the importance of the squad players being able to contribute more regularly was brought into sharper relief.

With the new head coach's intense style of play requiring hard yards from all of his players, academy graduates Lewis Koumas and James McConnell made good fists of their opportunity to play and rewarded Iraola's trust, which will surely only open up further chances in future as the Reds attempt to navigate the taxing schedule of English football once again.

Plenty of eyes, though, will have been fixed on a player further back in the midfield, making his first start of the season alongside goalscorer Alexis Mac Allister.

Did Trey Nyoni do enough to convince Iraola that he's ready to start in the Premier League? And did his performance, and those of Liverpool's other midfielders against Spurs, provide any more answers as to how the Basque tactician can solve his midfield conundrum?

Quietly influential

In a game where Liverpool's current first-choice midfield pairing both scored screamers, Nyoni was unlikely to shine quite as brightly. But on the occasion of his first senior start since the Reds crashed out of this competition in the fourth round last year, the 19-year-old may well have been the most important of all.

Starting to Mac Allister's right, Nyoni was the deeper of the two midfielders, which gave the former a license to get forward more than in recent games alongside Szoboszlai.

Mac Allister hasn't struggled to make an impact in the final third this season - this was the 27-year-old's second goal in as many cup games this season, counting the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid last week - but here he was noticeably more expansive.

The Argentine had three shots in the first half alone, the first being his delightfully curled finish from just inside the penalty area, and another opportunity would catch him unprepared after energetic work from Koumas to close down Marcos Senesi.

Those goals accounted for both of Mac Allister's two first-half touches in the penalty area, but Nyoni's role was more withdrawn, never crossing the white line into the 18-yard box during his 62 minutes on the pitch.

Much has been made of the lack of balance in Liverpool's midfield this season, but Nyoni naturally provides that for the Reds' more front-footed players in that department by his willingness to stay behind the play, where he can have the biggest influence on a game.

On Tuesday night, Nyoni regularly dropped in between or into the space just in front of Liverpool's centre-backs, giving the Reds an extra player in build-up and allowing him to play intelligent passes through the lines.

Starting deeper, Nyoni managed just two passes into the final third, but kept things moving quickly, attempting 39 passes from just 48 touches - succeeding with 37, including both of his attempted long passes, for the highest pass completion rate of any Liverpool player (95%).

Nyoni has essentially replaced Liverpool's previous controller in the squad, Curtis Jones, but prefers the game ahead of him more than the Scouser. In the first half, only the centre-back pairing of Ronald Araujo and Joe Gomez attempted more passes than the 19-year-old, as the Reds constantly looked to build up through him.

Even more impressive than Nyoni's confidence on the ball, though, was his defensive work. Aside from one awkward moment when an overzealous challenge allowed Marmoush to skip past him on the counter which led to a chance at the near post for Mohamed Kudus, the youngster hardly put a foot wrong.

In the first half alone, Nyoni made five defensive contributions - two tackles, two clearances and an interception, also making five recoveries and winning two out of three ground duels, as well as one aerial duel.

For some context, Szoboszlai has made four tackles across four Premier League matches so far this season. In just one half of football, Nyoni reached halfway to that total, and attempted another tackle after the break to boost his numbers even further.

The volume of Nyoni's work should paint a picture of what Liverpool were up against. Epitomised by Kudus' aforementioned miss, Tottenham were wasteful in front of goal, but still created enough to seriously test Mamardashvili on two occasions.

That chance for Kudus was the most emblematic of how Spurs approached the game, constantly looking to get Destiny Udogie round the outside on the overlap, and the Italian was his team's best creative outlet with 0.58 xA (expected assists).

That only increased in the second half, including after Andy Robertson replaced Udogie for his Anfield return, Tottenham directing 40% of their attacks towards the right side of Liverpool's defence.

Despite nicking the ball off a Tottenham toe in the lead-up to Cody Gakpo's thunderous goal, Nyoni's levels began to fade somewhat after the break - understandably, perhaps, with so few minutes in his legs yet this season - and patience will be required for him to build up to being able to play for longer regularly.

Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to him, though, is what happened after he left the pitch.

A different sort of midfield

When Nyoni and McConnell were replaced with Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch on the hour mark, Spurs were already starting to look more threatening.

In putting more experienced heads on the pitch, Iraola no doubt hoped to be able to lock down the match more effectively, but this proved not to be the case.

Tottenham were able to put together a sustained spell of momentum after the substitutions, their only real such period in the game, and that persisted until the final 10 minutes or so when Liverpool again started to threaten on the break with the away side becoming more and more desperate to find a goal.

Conor Gallagher halved the deficit from a corner routine that Mamardashvili should have dealt better with - though he more than made up for it with his jaw-dropping stop later in the second half - and Liverpool, who saw just 40% of the ball in the second half, were beginning to look vulnerable.

The rest was history. Szoboszlai's chest-down and half-volley from all of 30 yards out is the only part of his performance in this game that will be remembered beyond the international break, but the Hungarian actually played more or less as unconvincingly as he had in other games this season that were not blessed with such a genuinely unforgettable goal.

Szoboszlai won just one of his five ground duels and fluffed a golden opportunity prior to his worldie, but more noteworthy was the shape with which Liverpool finished the game in midfield.

Rather than stick with the 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 formation Iraola has used all season, the head coach played Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai together in a midfield three more similar to the one with which the Reds won the Premier League title last year.

With a new style of play being worked on, this looked unfamiliar despite having previously been so commonplace for Liverpool, and the early signs were less than positive.

But this was ultimately the shape with which the Reds saw out the game, and it allowed Szoboszlai the freedom to make the attacking run in behind that saw him fire straight at Dubravka.

For all that the No. 8 has been rightly criticised for what has at times been poor defensive positioning in a relatively new role, he has only made one touch in the opposition box in the Premier League across the first four games of the season. In this game, he made two.

Given the technical profiles of Liverpool's midfielders, would it not perhaps make more sense to work on a set-up that allows them to express themselves more in this way?

Why Liverpool are unlikely to change shape

Liverpool looking uncertain after the substitutions should have been no real surprise. That performance in the last half an hour, which Mac Allister described as "not good", was players trying to adapt what is still - for the majority of them - a new set of tactical principles to a different formation, even if that formation was closer to one that many of them have played their best football in previously.

Even so, the same can be said of the shape Iraola has used for the most part this season. We are just six games into a new era, and it is likely that kinks like Szoboszlai's positioning in a double pivot will be ironed out somewhat with more time spent in games and on the training pitch.

The headscratcher for Iraola, though, will be whether that setup currently represents the best way of getting the most out of his players. Szoboszlai's goal was a timely reminder that, for all he has frustrated at times this season, he simply has to be in Liverpool's best team.

Off the bench against Spurs on Tuesday, he was given license to roam into areas where he can use his frightening skillset to full effect, and that was courtesy of having two players alongside him instead of one - but that poses the problem of where, exactly, Florian Wirtz fits.

Going back to the first half, Mac Allister looked similarly invigorated going forwards with the protection of a specialist defensive midfielder in Nyoni sitting alongside him - and on the basis of his performance, the youngster might be the key to unlocking the other two-thirds of that midfield, while allowing for a No. 10 in the team.

What is clear is that Nyoni isn't ready just yet to play 90 minutes every week in the Premier League. Though this was an extremely encouraging performance, he will need to build up to playing more regularly - but he has done himself no shortage of favours in terms of forcing his way into Iraola's thinking, if he wasn't there already.

At the very least, the head coach now knows he has another option that can be relied on against Premier League opposition, and the performances of Koumas and McConnell are at the very least proof that Liverpool's squad players can be trusted to execute his system and give everything during their minutes on the pitch.

But in Nyoni, Iraola might have just realised what he's been missing.

Dominik Szoboszlai explains Liverpool goal celebration and details Andoni Iraola midfield blueprint  Liverpool Echo

Why Lewis Koumas never lost faith in Liverpool dream as new hero shares Andoni Iraola talks  Liverpool Echo

How the national media reacted to Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night

Liverpool returned to winning ways by beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night and maintained their unbeaten start under their new head coach Andoni Iraola.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for the Reds midway through the first half before Cody Gakpo doubled their lead after the break.

And while Conor Gallagher halved the deficit, Dominik Szoboszlai’s stoppage-time piledriver clinched the victory to book Liverpool's progression to the fourth round.

With Iraola rotating his side, making 10 changes from the team that were held to a goalless draw by Fulham, youngsters Lewis Koumas, Trey Nyoni and James McConnell all impressed after being handed their first starts of the season.

As always, the ECHO was in attendance at Anfield to witness the Reds' progression in the League Cup. And while we provided our usual level of coverage, here’s how the national media viewed proceedings...

It was not lost on Paul Joyce of The Times that Spurs were punished by one that got anyway as Gakpo and the Liverpool's young guns gave Iraola plenty to smile about.

He wrote: “Missed opportunities have become the theme of Tottenham Hotspur’s early season toils. How apt then, that they were punished by the one that got away.

“Roberto De Zerbi had pursued Cody Gakpo all summer as he sought to bolster his squad and yet, despite splurging £320million on other signings, failed to progress a deal for the Liverpool winger.

“The Tottenham manager might have known what was coming just after the interval, then, as Gakpo chopped on to his right foot and bent a finish into the corner… Just like the weather at Anfield, when it rains, it pours for De Zerbi.

“The Liverpool head coach, Andoni Iraola, had rather more to smile about with Dominik Szoboszlai giving the scoreline a layer of gloss in added time with a sensational volley from 30 yards. The midfielder ran away tapping his ear as he celebrated, a pointed gesture which suggested he has been aware of the negative chatter about his recent displays…

“While the majesty of that Howitzer left jaws dropping, this was also a night when Iraola would have found the hard yards put in by a young team containing ten changes more pleasing.”

Andy Hunter of The Guardian wrote how De Zerbi’s toothless team were made to pay ‘with a quality of finishing that he can only dream of.’

He wrote: “Tottenham scored and Roberto De Zerbi eulogised the quality at his disposal, yet try telling Spurs’ suffering away support there was consolation to be found at Anfield. Liverpool toyed with De Zerbi by advancing into round four with a quality of finishing that he can only dream of.

“While the Spurs head coach talked a good game and his players played a pretty one in harmless areas, Liverpool produced the only effective one. Alexis Mac Allister promoted his claims for a new contract for the second midweek in succession with an excellent strike and Cody Gakpo continued his fine early season form with a smart second plus an assist. But both were overshadowed by Dominik Szoboszlai’s stupendous 25-yard finish in stoppage time…

“Spurs would not escape a third time. In stoppage time, Szoboszlai let Gakpo’s flick roll off his chest before thumping a fabulous shot beyond Martin Dubravka from long range. He celebrated by pointing to his ear, perhaps in response to the criticism his display against Fulham had attracted. The Liverpool vice-captain’s concerns pale in comparison to De Zerbi’s and his toothless team.”

In the Daily Mail, Lewis Steele was impressed at how both Mac Allister and Gakpo continue to look players reborn under Iraola - even if Szoboszlai’s wonder strike stole the show.

He wrote: “Szoboszlai will take the acclaim as he often does but this victory equally belonged to his team-mates and the supporting cast after Andoni Iraola made 10 changes from the side that looked lethargic and devoid of ideas in a 0-0 weekend draw with Fulham.

“The main architects of the win were two players who have points to prove at the club. One feels unwanted amid a contract stand-off, the other the opposite after a summer departure was kiboshed – but Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo combined to lethal effect here.

“First up was Mac Allister, the Argentine who last week revealed he was 'very sad' with the club for not putting a new contract on the table for him and saying they were not in a position to extend his deal at the club.

“He has talked the talk but is walking the walk, this his second goal in the two starts since then after a starring role and strike against Atletico Madrid six days ago.

“Sadly for the midfielder and his camp, including father Carlos, it appears Liverpool are benefiting from the uncertainty around him. He is playing with a point to prove and this frustrated version of Mac Allister is markedly better than the sloppy, lethargic version of last term.

“Then there is Gakpo. Had the summer window panned out ever so slightly differently, the Dutchman would be at Manchester City or Spurs right now, with both clubs at different times confident of signing him during a saga that felt like it was destined to end with an exit.

“But Liverpool ultimately pulled the plug on those moves and, like his fellow goal-scorer, Gakpo is flying once more, with two goals and four assists in his first five appearances of the season.

“Both cases should serve as a reminder to fans to not write off players so quickly. Neither were anywhere near their best last term but both have looked reborn under Iraola.”

And finally, Richard Jolly of The Independent also focused on Gakpo’s efforts as Tottenham were made to regret missing out on the Dutchman.

He wrote: “If Tottenham had their way, Cody Gakpo would have been scoring goals for them by now. Instead, he scored against them and even as they ended one barren streak, another looks set to continue.

“It was quintessential Gakpo, in the manner of the goal, the right-footed finish angled across the goalkeeper. More pertinently, it felt typical Tottenham. A hideous start to the season was compounded as a club without domestic silverware for 18 years were eliminated from one of the two competitions they could have designs on winning. They have had few returns on their colossal spending spree but suffered at the hands of the man they tried to buy.

“Liverpool progressed because of one they considered selling, in the Dutchman, and another who went public in his gripes that they have not done enough to keep him, in Alexis Mac Allister, with a win that was clinched by Dominik Szoboszlai’s latest wonder goal. His spectacular long-range half-volley rewarded Andoni Iraola for his policy of holding some of his premier players back and making a team showing 10 changes team stronger with his substitutions.

“The committed display of a youthful side was an endorsement of the Basque. Tottenham’s defeat, with a lack of urgency for too long and a needless decision to bench most of their big-money buys, was an indictment of Roberto De Zerbi…

“Yet the evening ended with Gakpo wearing the Liverpool armband, sliding on the sodden Anfield turf, celebrating Szoboszlai’s magnificent strike. Gakpo can be glad he stayed, and Liverpool that they kept him. Tottenham can only add to their list of regrets.”

The latest Liverpool injury news after the 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Tuesday night

Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 3-1 Carabao Cup third-round win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night. Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo had put the Reds 2-0 up before Conor Gallagher pulled a goal back, but Dominik Szoboszlai secured his side’s place in tonight’s draw with a stunning strike a minute into stoppage time.

A star-studded bench featured new signings Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet as well as Alisson Becker and Szoboszlai. And in another boost for Reds boss Andoni Iraola, his side welcomed back Joe Gomez, who played the opening 45 minutes.

And below is a look at the Reds' current injury list and possible return dates...

Conor Bradley

Injury: Knee.

Bradley has been out since January with a serious knee injury he suffered in a clash with Arsenal, which has since required surgery.

What Iraola has said: “I think he is not close to training with the team. He’s training alone but he has started touching the ball.

“Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready but it’s a long-term injury. I think [Giovanni] Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”

Potential return date: Unknown.

Giovanni Leoni

Injury: Knee.

Leoni is closing in on a return to action after missing over a year with a knee injury sustained in a League Cup win over Southampton at the start of last season.

What Iraola has said: “I think Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”

Potential return date: Late October.

Hugo Ekitike

Injury: Achilles.

Ekitike has faced a long spell on the sidelines after suffering an Achilles injury against PSG at the back end of last season.

What Iraola has said: "Probably Conor, and especially Hugo, will go later [than the international break], yes.”

Potential return date: Unknown.

Federico Chiesa

Injury: Back.

The forward has missed every game so far this season due to a lower back injury.

What Iraola has said: "I think even Fede should be [back in training] around those dates [of the international break]."

Potential return date: vs Man City (H) (October 11).

Roberto De Zerbi makes Tottenham claim after Liverpool defeat - 'I think it is unfair'  Liverpool Echo

That's all from us here on tonight's match blog. We'll be back on Sunday when Andoni Iraola returns to Bournemouth.

And the Liverpool head coach should be in positive mood after his much-changed did the business this evening.

But before we go, just a plug for Paul Gorst's big-match verdict, which has just been published on our website.

Read in HERE.

Goodnight. Take care of yourselves.

Had Tottenham Hotspur got their way, Cody Gakpo would have been lining up against Liverpool here rather than helping them take their first step towards Wembley.

The repeated failure of the Reds to recruit a new right-winger during the summer transfer window meant both the Londoners and Manchester City, who were willing to spend £85million on Gakpo, ultimately had to look elsewhere.

And how Liverpool have benefited from the circumstances that saw the Dutchman not only stay, but also subsequently emerge as their key player during the formative stages of Andoni Iraola’s tenure.

To think it was mere months ago Gakpo was among those being targeted by the angry Anfield crowd as Liverpool lurched from one disappointment to the next under the beleaguered and ultimately banished Arne Slot.

Here, though, the Kop crowed by chanting the name of the Holland international during the second half of a deserved Carabao Cup third-round triumph against the attacker’s former suitors. Rare has redemption been so rapid.

READ IAN DOYLE'S ON-THE-WHISTLE ANALYSIS IN FULL HERE

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the Reds boss said: "I am pleased with the performance. I think there have been different phases in the game but overall I liked the energy. We scored but I am happy because we are in the next round.

"I think at 2-0, they have to take a risk and win some territory. We were defending well but conceding a lot of set-pieces and when they scored that put us under some pressure. Luckily for us we found a way to score a third and finish the game properly."

The midfielder, whose fine strike set Liverpool on their way to victory this evening, has been speaking to ITV post-match: "We played against a very good team who know what to do on the ball.

"I like getting in the box and scoring, really important to score for our confidence and to win but we need to understand this is one game.

"I am feeling really good and I am feeling the love of the fans which is really important for me.

"The young players show every day in training they want to be here. They deserved this. I focus quite a lot on them and sometimes get angry but I think that is me wanting them to succeed.

"They are going to be really, really important for us during this season."

Giorgi Mamardashvili 7

Tested patience of crowd with some early moments of hesitation before great point-blank save to thwart Lucas Bergvall. Good stop from Mohammed Kudus second half and outrageous one to keep out Omar Marmoush but unconvincing for Tottenham goal.

Alexis Mac Allister 7

Looked to get Liverpool moving in midfield with his passing and tackling and excellent finish for the opener before laying on the second.

Cody Gakpo 8

Purposeful play down the left initiated the opener and playing with real confidence. Put himself about against the team who wanted to sign him.

READ IAN DOYLE'S PLAYER RATINGS IN FULL HERE

Liverpool have been really good this second half for me.

They are first to everything; stronger and quicker.

The hunger is clearly there and they are feeding off the noise here at Anfield.

A third kills this as a contest, which it definitely still now after 67 minutes.

Giorgi Mamardashvili 6

Tested patience of crowd with some early moments of hesitation before great point-blank save to keep out Bergvall.

Jeremie Frimpong 6

Steady enough at right-back where he was kept busy by Tel first half. Booked.

Ronald Araujo 6

Shifted across to centre-back where much of his defending was proactive. Booked.

Joe Gomez 6

Skipper on his first appearance in more than six weeks, kept things simple defensively.

Milos Kerkez 7

Involved in real tussle with Kudus from first whistle and willing to push forward when possible.

Trey Nyoni 6

Somewhat nervy in the opening exchanges but settled as the deeper of the two central midfielders.

Alexis Mac Allister 7

Looked to get Liverpool moving in midfield with his passing and tackling and excellent finish for the opener.

Rio Ngumoha 7

Caused problems whenever given the opportunity to run at his marker, not least when helping create the first goal.

James McConnell 6

Took a while to adjust to the number 10 role but began making an impact before the interval.

Cody Gakpo 8

Purposeful play down the left initiated the opener and playing with real confidence. Put himself about against the team who wanted to sign him.

Lewis Koumas 7

Early chance denied by Dubravka and pressing and energy meant he was a real pest to the Tottenham defence.

After Saturday’s snoozefest, this was the ideal way for Andoni Iraola and his Liverpool team to blow away the cobwebs.

Into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, courtesy of an absorbing and entertaining 3-1 win against a strong Tottenham Hotspur side, it was the perfect tonic after the minor stumble against Fulham.

It may make it more difficult to put a defining finger on just how good Liverpool's start to the season has been but victory against Bournemouth on Sunday will make it look like the glass is at least half full as club football presses pause until October on Sunday afternoon.

They say there are two ways to execute a successful League Cup campaign: you either fall at the first hurdle or you win it. As 10-time winners, the Reds would say they only know one route and a strong cup run would greatly aid a team for whom it is tough to say what would represent genuine progress this season besides the obvious amassing of trophies.

Liverpool's opener came from a controlled finish by Alexis Mac Allister after Rio Ngumoha's dazzling footwork was crowded out inside the Spurs area. The Argentina international met the ball with his in-step when it would have been easy to thrash at it, resulting in a high finish past Martin Dubravka.

Much has been made of Iraola's midfield makeup and what is the best combination for the engine room at present. Mac Allister was one of the many whose form toppled off a cliff last season but he has been reinvigorated so far under Iraola on the back of World Cup final heartache.

Alongside the inexperienced duo of James McConnell and Trey Nyoni, Mac Allister seemed to relish the responsibility as the senior pro in the middle of the park. The only surprise when captain Joe Gomez was replaced by Jeremy Jacquet was that the armband wasn't passed to Mac Allister.

For all the questions that area of the pitch is throwing up presently, Mac Allister should be considered a regular on this form. The rest can be worked out as the time on the training pitches begins to be reflected in rhythm and momentum on the pitch.

It was a big night in the young careers of McConnell and Nyoni. With Iraola keen to see if he can call upon some of his fringe players more often in what is a light squad, both showed the head coach they are more than capable against Premier League opposition. McConnell in particular is an intriguing prospect now and the fact Wataru Endo didn't get on the pitch at all presents room for debate.

Liverpool's second goal came from the rejuvenated Cody Gakpo, who fired home into the far corner after escaping Archie Gray's attention on the left. It was a textbook strike from the Netherlands international, whose impressive start to the campaign continued here. He, much like Mac Allister, looks like a far better player than the one who limped to the finish back in May.

It seems absurd now, just a couple of weeks on, that Gakpo's future was in such doubt as Manchester City lurked in the background at the end of the transfer window. Even if he was sold for an eye-watering £85m, it would have left Iraola's squad short of such quality at a time when too many forward players are still cutting their teeth at this football club.

Gakpo's excellent few weeks means he now has four assists and two goals across five appearances and he represents the most trustworthy operator for Iraola right now, who made a point of demanding more from his expensively assembled forward line earlier this week. It feels like a corner has been turned now where Gakpo's indifferent form of 25/26 is concerned.

Stand-in goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili didn't cover himself in glory as Tottenham cored their first goal in five attempts against Premier League opposition this term. The Georgia international should have commanded his penalty box much more decisively to stop Conor Gallagher heading home but he made amends with a couple of important interventions as the visitors searched for a late leveller. One save in particular from Omar Marmoush drew gasps.

Substitute Dominik Szoboszlai wrapped things up with a special strike that might just sit atop the particularly impressive list he has assembled since joining over three years ago. Dubravka could get nowhere near the wicked, dipping volley in stoppage time.

But if Szoboszlai’s goal was a mere reminder of his gifts, this night was more instructive for the performances of Nyoni, McConnell and Lewis Koumas, whose player-of-the-match performance wouldn’t have gone unnoticed by Iraola, who has championed him almost from day one at the club.

It was Iraola who stepped in to tell the decision makers in the summer of his hope that Koumas wouldn’t be sent on loan and the Wales international will be needed in the coming weeks and months. His languid style meshes well with an ability to play across the frontline and he has surely nudged ahead of the injured Federico Chiesa now.

Liverpool secured their place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with an entertaining 3-1 third-round victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening. Alexis Mac Allister gave a much-changed Reds team a half-time lead and, after Cody Gakpo and Conor Gallagher traded goals, substitute Dominik Szoboszlai made the game safe with a late belter.

The result means Andoni Iraola's side remain unbeaten under the new head coach and will head into Sunday's Premier League trip to his former club Bournemouth with renewed confidence.

The ECHO was in attendance at Anfield and here we run the rule over the performance of the Liverpool players.

Giorgi Mamardashvili 7

Tested patience of crowd with some early moments of hesitation before great point-blank save to thwart Lucas Bergvall. Good stop from Mohammed Kudus second half and outrageous one to keep out Omar Marmoush but unconvincing for Tottenham goal.

Jeremie Frimpong 6

Steady enough at right-back where he was kept busy by Mathys Tel first half and stuck to his task as Tottenham poured forward late on. Booked.

Ronald Araujo 6

Shifted across to centre-back where much of his defending was proactive. Much more testing time second half, though. Booked.

Joe Gomez 6

Skipper on welcome return after more than six weeks on the sidelines, kept things simple defensively during his 45-minute outing. Subbed.

Milos Kerkez 6

Involved in real tussle with Kudus from first whistle and willing to push forward when possible. Involved in second goal but became increasingly wild with his defending. Booked.

Trey Nyoni 6

Somewhat nervy in the opening exchanges but settled as the deeper of the two central midfielders. Solid showing. Subbed.

Alexis Mac Allister 7

Looked to get Liverpool moving in midfield with his passing and tackling and excellent finish for the opener before laying on the second.

Rio Ngumoha 7

Caused problems whenever given the opportunity to run at his marker, not least when helping create the first goal and heavily involved in second. Subbed.

James McConnell 6

Took a while to adjust to the number 10 role but began making an impact before the interval. Subbed.

Cody Gakpo 8

Purposeful play down the left initiated the opener and playing with real confidence. Put himself about against the team who wanted to sign him.

Lewis Koumas 8

Early chance denied by Martin Dubravka and pressing and energy meant he was a real pest to the Tottenham defence. Held ball up well when Liverpool needed him to second half. Subbed.

SUBS

Jeremy Jacquet (for Gomez 46) 7

Strong challenge denied Marmoush and decent outing.

Ryan Gravenberch (for Nyoni 62) 5

Not the cameo contribution the midfielder was looking for.

Dominik Szoboszlai (for McConnell 62) 6

Less than convincing until he absolutely smashed home the third goal.

Bradley Barcola (for Ngumoha 71) 6

More minutes for the new signing.

Alexander Isak (for Koumas 86)

Had shot well saved by Tosin, although no penalty given.