LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after his side scores the second goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after his side scores the second goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool weathered late pressure to secure their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, with a Dominik Szoboszlai stunner making sure of the result.
LIVERPOOL 3-1 TOTTENHAM
Carabao Cup (3rd Round) | Anfield
September 15, 2026
GOALS
Mac Allister 21′
Gakpo 54′ (assist: Mac Allister)
Gallagher 69′
Szoboszlai 90+1′ (assist: Gakpo)
STATS
Possession: 44% – 56%
Shots: 12 (5) – 17 (6)
Big Chances: 2 – 3
Expected Goals (xG): 1.53 – 2.30
10 changes as Iraola leaves 3 out entirely
Andoni Iraola expressed the need for fresh legs in the lead-up to Tottenham’s visit in the Carabao Cup, and he delivered with 10 changes – Ronald Araujo was the only player retained.
Joe Gomez marked his return from injury with an immediate start – his first since May – with trust placed in young duo James McConnell and Trey Nyoni in midfield, and Lewis Koumas in attack.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool players form a pre-match huddle before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool players form a pre-match huddle before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool Team News
IN: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Gomez, Kerkez, Nyoni, McConnell, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, Gakpo, Koumas
Left out of squad: Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Wirtz
Cody Gakpo returned to the starting lineup after marking his injury comeback off the bench against Fulham, with the Dutchman on the left wing and Rio Ngumoha on the right.
Virgil van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas and Florian Wirtz were left out of the squad entirely, with the remainder of the Reds’ first-team regulars named on the bench.
Ex-Red Andy Robertson, meanwhile, was named on the bench for Tottenham on his first visit back to Anfield, and was later serenaded by the Kop on his introduction.
Mac Allister strikes first as young duo impress
As the heavens opened at Anfield, Tottenham had the early ascendancy with the Reds struggling for fluidity, seeing Lucas Bergvall draw a brilliant save via Mamardashvili’s legs.
It was Koumas who had the next shot on target after running off the shoulder of Marcos Senesi and collecting Ngumoha’s pass, only to fire the ball at the onrushing goalkeeper.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As Liverpool started to look comfortable, they progressed more easily up the pitch, and it came as a reward for Alexis Mac Allister, who needed no invitation to score his second goal of the season.
A quick long ball from Gomez set off a chain reaction, with Mac Allister punishing a loose ball with a first-time top corner finish for 1-0 – playing for a contract is paying off for Liverpool!
Nyoni was particularly impressive in the first half, holding his position in the middle third and showing the poise the midfield has been desperate for.
Koumas was similarly lively and tenacious, forcing Tottenham into errors and creating half chances as they persisted with playing out from the back, much to Anfield’s approval.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gakpo nets again as Mamardashvili saves prove crucial
Gomez was replaced immediately after the break by Jeremy Jacquet, a pre-planned change after two months sidelined with a hamstring injury.
And Gakpo, who inherited the captain’s armband, doubled the lead against his summer suitors in the 54th minute, collecting Mac Allister’s pass in the box and cutting inside for a trademark finish.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool then dropped a little deeper and invited Mohammed Kudus to test Mamardashvili, who, again, saved well – though was perhaps fortunate the ricochet bounced to Jacquet.
He was, however, unable to get close to Tottenham’s inswinging corner, with Conor Gallagher pegging a goal back for the visitors with a free header at the back post.
It came after McConnell and Nyoni made way just after the hour for Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, with Liverpool conceding control and gifting away possession.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Tottenham Hotspur's Conor Gallagher scores his side's first goal against Premier League opposition this season to make the score 2-1 during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Somewhat ironic that as Liverpool became stronger, they began giving the opposition impetus.
The final 10 minutes became an open contest as Liverpool were the team to counter attack in the pouring rain, with Szoboszlai’s weak effort matched by another reflex save from Mamardashvili.
Late stunner from Szoboszlai
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scores his side's third goal ing the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scores his side's third goal ing the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While it became needlessly nervy at the end, Szoboszlai made any tension evaporate with a stunning finish from outside the box after the 90 minutes.
The technique had Alexander Isak’s head in his hands and Anfield rose to its feet for another Kop special from the No. 8.
Liverpool’s win puts them in the hat for the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the eighth season in a row.
TIA Man of the Match: Trey Nyoni
Next Match: Bournemouth (A) – Premier League – Sunday, September 20, 2pm (BST)
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Araujo, Gomez (Jacquet 46′), Kerkez; McConnell, Nyoni (Gravenberch 62′); Gakpo, Mac Allister (Szoboszlai 62′), Ngumoha (Barcola 72′); Koumas (Isak 86′)
Subs not used: Alisson, Chambers, Endo, Munoz
Tottenham: Dubravka; Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie (Robertson 57′); Bergvall, Bentancur (Fernandes 57′); Kudus, Gallagher, Tel (Solanke 85′); Marmoush
Subs not used: Kinsky, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Davies, Maddison, Savio
Referee: Andy Madley
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's James McConnell during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: A general view of Anfield before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)