Szoboszlai stunner caps Liverpool display as Reds end Spurs' Carabao involvement

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Carabao Cup: Liverpool 3 Spurs 1 

To slightly misquote Chas & Dave, Spurs aren't on their way to Wembley. And as far as the Carabao Cup is concerned this season, Tottenham aren't going to do it again.

The 18-year wait for domestic silverware goes on and sadly devalued competitions like this one are well down Roberto De Zerbi's list of priorities as the beleaguered Italian attempts to rid the London club of the clown-car persona it has endured for far too long.

Nonetheless, an opportunity to record a rare and morale-boosting win was passed up almost with alacrity by a club that has become far too used to losing. 

Richarlison remains the last Tottenham player to score against Liverpool, and given the Brazilian's very public stand-off with his head coach, there was never remotely any chance of that statistic being embellished last night.

This latest defeat was inflicted in part by a familiar face in the shape of Alexis Mac Allister - an integral part of De Zerbi's midfield at Brighton - who produced an eye-catching finish midway through the first half to further back with actions his well-publicised words claiming he is worthy of an Anfield contract extension.

Cody Gakpo added a second goal early in the second half when the Dutch forward found the net for the 10th time in 13 League Cup ties before Conor Gallagher's late consolation ensured a modicum of jeopardy in the final outcome and means at least De Zerbi's side have now scored against Premier League opposition this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai's stoppage-time third topped the lot in terms of its breath-taking nature, fired in from long-range in trademark style by the Hungarian.

Andy Robertson received a richly deserved ovation from all sides of Anfield when the Scot entered the fray as a second-half substitute for the visitors, but his first return must have been tinged with embarrassment at the ramshackle state of the side the 32-year-old has joined.

As they eased into round four, Liverpool shaded it in terms of the combined 18 changes, with only defender Ronald Araujo retaining his place from the hosts' frustrating Premier League stalemate at home to Fulham.

Tottenham have not come from behind to win a game in the last 46 attempts stretching back to the end of 2024 so they were always likely to be up against it once Mac Allister broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with his second goal in three games.

It might have been different had Lucas Bergvall taken a golden chance to put his side ahead early on when the Spurs midfielder, in oceans of space on the penalty spot as the ball broke kindly to him following good work down the left from Destiny Udogie, placed a weak shot straight at the legs of Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool took heed of the early warning and came close to hitting the front when, from a perfectly weighted pass into the area from Rio Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas had his shot from a narrow angle, well blocked by Martin Dubravka.

Andoni Iraola's side didn't have to wait long to ensure their growing dominance was reflected in the scoreline. 

Joe Gomez and Gakpo combined to ferry possession over to the right where the impressive Ngumoha forced Udogie to stab the ball along the 18-yard box for Mac Allister to find the top corner with a sweet first-time finish which left Dubravka rooted to the spot.

Mo Kudus should have levelled before the break when he beat a sleeping Milos Kerkez to another decent Udogie cross but failed to keep his near-post effort on target as the Premier League's most toothless attack reverted to type in the cup after the anomaly of scoring five in the previous round's success over Charlton.

Gakpo deservedly doubled the advantage nine minutes into the second-half, deftly cutting back inside Archie Gray to plant an unstoppable shot across Dubravka and into the bottom corner from 15 yards at the culmination of a fine four-man move around the Spurs area.

Mamardashvili saved well to thwart Kudus but the Liverpool keeper was badly at fault when his failure to cut out a Mateus Fernandes corner allowed Gallagher to reduce the deficit with a close-range header 20 minutes from time.

The imposing Georgian atoned with a stunning reaction save from a deflected Omar Marmoush effort before substitute Szoboszlai sealed victory with a stunning 30-yard effort into the top corner.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili 6; Frimpong 5, Araujo 6, Gomez 7 (Jacquet 46, 6), Kerkez 5; Nyoni 6 (Gravenberch 62, 5), Mac Allister 8; Ngumoha 8 (Barcola 72, 6), McConnell 6 (Szoboszlai 62, 7), Gakpo 7; Koumas 6 (Isak 86, 6). Booked: Araujo, Frimpong.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Dubravka 6; Gray 6, Adarabioyo 6, Senesi, Udogie 7 (Robertson 57, 6); Bentancur 5 (Fernandes 57, 6), Bergvall 6; Kudus 7 (Savio 75, 5), Gallagher 7 (Maddison 75, 6), Tel 5 (Solake 85, 6); Omar Marmoush 6. Booked: Marmoush, Bentancur.

Referee: Andy Madley