Szoboszlai-Liverpool-Spurs
What a way to silence the doubters, with Dominik Szoboszlai sending Liverpool into the next round of the Carabao Cup following an outrageous stoppage-time effort on Tuesday evening.
All the talk in the wake of the weekend draw with Fulham has been about the Reds' midfield configuration, although Szoboszlai served a reminder of his quality to help steer the hosts past a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side.
The Hungarian's sweet strike was, in truth, the icing on the cake in that 3-1 win for Andoni Iraola's men, with the Merseysiders fending off a late Spurs fightback to book a deserved place in the fourth round.
Szoboszlai-Liverpool-Iraola
It's not been the start to the season that was hoped for, but this was more like it from the men in red, as Iraola's tactical tweaks and alterations came up trumps.
Szoboszlai rounds off positive night for Liverpool vs Spurs
It wasn't a perfect display by any means, with the Reds still reliant on Giorgi Mamardashvili to bail them out of trouble on occasion, yet there were a string of improved performances all across the park.
Szoboszlai-Robertson-Liverpool
At full-back, Milos Kerkez enjoyed his tussle with Mohammed Kudus down the left flank, while on the opposite side, Jeremie Frimpong firmly got the better of Mathys Tel in what was one of the Dutchman's brightest outings so far in a Liverpool shirt.
In midfield, the star of last week's win over Atletico Madrid, Alexis Mac Allister, continued his recent resurgence with another exquisite strike, the Argentine opening the scoring with a sweeping effort into the roof of the net.
||
Liverpool Player Ratings vs Spurs
GK - Mamardashvili
RB - Frimpong
CB - Araujo
CB - Gomez
LB - Kerkez
CM - Nyoni
CM - Mac Allister
AM - McConnell
RW - Ngumoha
LW - Gakpo
ST - Koumas
Alongside him, the youthful duo of Trey Nyoni and James McConnell provided the kind of balance that supporters have been crying out for so far this term, with it fair to say that the introduction of Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai did actually disrupt matters, even if the latter man did put the tie to bed at the death.
As that effort showcased, the 25-year-old's quality is not in doubt, yet fresh from having signed a bumper new deal, there is still the question mark as to what his best role is in this side.
Indeed, having firmly been Liverpool's brightest spark last season, the former RB Leipzig powerhouse might not actually be the key figure under Iraola any longer.
Why Liverpool star now looks like Iraola's best player
There is a changing of the guard happening on Merseyside, with the Reds not necessarily suffering in the absence of Alisson or Virgil van Dijk in the backline.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola before the match
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola before the match
The veteran duo are no longer integral and essential to everything good about this team, while last term saw another of Jurgen Klopp's great side, Mohamed Salah, also begin to see his powers wane.
The decline of Salah allowed Szoboszlai to take centre stage, yet in 2026/27, the main man might well be the polarising Cody Gakpo, with the Dutchman again coming up clutch on Tuesday.
That's not a sentence that anyone would expect to have read mere weeks ago, amid the likelihood of an exit for Gakpo, but it's hard to argue with his fine form in the early weeks of the campaign.
A goalscorer against Newcastle United on the opening weekend, the 27-year-old also supplied that pinpoint assist for Alexander Isak against Nottingham Forest.
The duo also twice combined in the win away at Ipswich Town, with Gakpo's trivela assist for the Swede's second goal having been simply sublime.
There was more of the same on Tuesday evening too, and while the former PSV Eindhoven was quiet to begin with, he came alive after the break, even while racking up just 50 touches in tota
Indeed, the clinical winger rifled in what has become almost a trademark finish to make it 2-0 on the night, while it was also his dinked pass that teed up Szoboszlai to lash home for the clincher late on.
In a different world, Gakpo might well have been lining up in Lilywhite instead, amid a summer of speculation, yet Iraola may well have struck gold by keeping the free-scoring forward around for a little while longer.
Cody-Gakpo-Koumas-Jacquet-Liverpool
Already up to six goals and assists in just five outings this season, Gakpo's importance can't be questioned, and while so many in this frontline, or this team in general, are still trying to find their rhythm, Liverpool's number 18 is truly beginning to showcase real consistency.
Taking on the captain's armband in the second-half only further highlighted just what a remarkable turnaround it has been for the Netherlands international at Anfield.
Long may it continue.