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. With others you might think it’s too far out, but not with him.” Spurs caused a few anxieties when Conor Gallagher headed home after Giorgi Mamardashvili’s failure to deal with a Mateus Fernandes corner.
But the Liverpool stand-in keeper atoned with several impressive stops, the best from Omar Marmoush, and the visitors’ wastefulness would prove another factor in their downfall. Defeat was deserved, despite De Zerbi’s claims to the contrary. I think it is unfair but we have to be stronger in these unlucky moments.
In these five or six games we have not been lucky. We have to improve a lot of things but we are in the right way. I have big confidence and a big opinion of my players.” De Zerbi made eight changes from Saturday’s stalemate with Everton, Iraola made 10 from a similarly drab draw against Fulham.
It was new faces but a similar story for Spurs as, for the second successive game against Merseyside opposition, they seized control from the start but failed to capitalise when in the ascendancy. Lucas Bergvall and Mohammed Kudus both should have scored from left-wing crosses by Destiny Udogie. The former allowed Mamardashvili to make an important, improvised save when he had the entire goal to aim for.
The latter volleyed over from four yards out. Liverpool turned the tide thanks to impressive contributions from the young quartet of Lewis Koumas, James McConnell, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha. Koumas led the line with an aggression and work rate that Iraola wants from all of his forwards, regardless of their price tags.
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