CARABAO CUP ROUND THREE
TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER, 2026
(8 PM)
LIVERPOOL 3(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(0)

Liverpool scorer(s):-
Mac Allister, 21
Gakpo, 54
Szoboszlai, 90 (+1)

Spurs scorers:-
Gallagher, 69

Attendance:- TBC

Referee:- Andy Madley
Assistants:- Wade Smith and Richard West
Fourth Official:- Andrew Kitchen

Teams:-
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):- 25. Mamardashvili; 30. Frimpong, 33. Araujo, 2. Gomez (Capt.) (sub 5. Jacquet, 46), 6. Kerkez; 42. Nyoni (sub 38. Gravenberch, 62), 10. Mac Allister; 73. Ngumoha (sub 29. Barcola, 72), 53. McConnell (sub 8. Szoboszlai, 62), 18. Gakpo; 67. Koumas (sub 9. Isak, 86)
(Armband to Gakpo)

Subs not used:- 1. Alisson; 44. Chambers; 3. Endo, 23. Munoz

Booked:- Araujo (foul on Marmoush), Frimpong (foul on Tel), Kerkez (foul on Gallagher)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 39. Dubravka; 14. Gray (Capt.), 4. Tosin, 5. Senesi, 13. Udogie (sub 3. Robertson, 57); 30. Bentancur (sub 18. Fernandes, 57), 15. Bergvall; 20. Kudus (sub 17. Savio, 75), 8. Gallagher (sub 10. Maddison, 75), 11. Tel (sub 19. Solanke, 85); 22. Marmoush
(Robertson took armband)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 6. Van Hecke, 33. Davies, 37. Van de Ven

Booked:- Marmoush (foul on McConnell), Bentancur (foul on Gakpo)

Some positives, but Spurs lose to clinical Liverpool

Thanks to Gary Smith for this picture

6,000 Spurs fans made the long trip to Anfield, where we haven't won since 2011. They got behind the team and did see a performance which suggested there are goals in our feet, but ultimately, the Liverpool big guns were more clinical and secured passage to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Those travelling fans can erase five potential fixtures from their sparse 2026/27 calendar and now have just 12 Premier League games before Christmas. We need to start winning such games, beginning with Villa on Saturday.

Both coaches made wholesale changes. Andoni Iraola's 10 different selections gave starts for 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, 22-year-old James McConnell and 20-year-old Lewis Koumas (Welsh international and son of Jason).

Roberto de Zerbi's eight changes were all established Premier League players. Archie Gray captained the side until Andy Robertson's second half entrance to rapturous home and away applause. Martin Dubravka, Tosin Adarabioyo and Marcos Senesi made their first senior starts for the club. Mohammed Kudus made his first start since January.

There were gilt-edged chances for Bergvall and Kudus in the first half in a game where Spurs enjoyed more possession and had more shots on goal, both on and off-target.

Spurs kicked off and played towards The Kop. Inside two minutes after a Gallagher-Kudus move, Spurs had a free kick for a defender's handball. Kudus's free kick was cleared, and Bentancur's subsequent effort was easy for goalkeeper Mamardashvili.

Bergvall was lively and made a good defensive tackle on Gakpo. It wasn't long before heavy rain began to fall. This as seen again towards the end of the game.

Bergvall really should have scored after 10 minutes when he latched onto Tel's cross, but saw his shot saved. Dubravka had to save at the other end from Koumas after a good ball by Ngumoha.

Liverpool took the lead in the 21st minute, when countering an attack by Udogie and Tel. Gakpo fed Ngumoha, who passed inside for Mac Allister (allegedly unsettled at present) to score from 16 yards.

One of Senesi's qualities is an eye for a pass, and he found Udogie, who sadly failed properly control the ball. Marmoush was fouled outside the box and took the free kick himself, hitting his shot over the target.

Marmoush was getting some joy with runs where he carried the ball forward. In one such move which included Tel and Bergvall, Kudus fired over from Tel's cross. He too should have hit the target.

Spurs had a scare when not playing out properly, but Mac Allister's shot was wide. Spurs had a couple of corners towards the end of the half, before Mac Allister hit a Liverpool free kick over the target.

Iraola swapped Joey Gomez for Jacquet at half-time. It wasn't long before the home side had a two-goal lead. Summer Spurs target Gakpo was the scorer after several passes in and around the box. In truth, the game now looked out of reach for Spurs, but with nothing to lose our boys did put in plenty of effort.

Marmoush had another decent run, passing to Kudus, whose shot was put out for a corner by Jacquet. Two more Liverpool substitutions followed with big guns Szoboszlai and Gravenberch replacing McConnell and Nyoni.

Bergvall advanced and fed Marmoush, but Kerkez's challenge took the ball away. At this time, I was thinking how De Zerbi was "bigging up" Solanke before the game, but there was no sign of him until the last five minutes.

After more good work by Marmoush, Gallagher's shot was deflected for a corner which was taken by substitute Fernandes. Mamardashvili failed to collect and Gallagher scored with a simple header behind the keeper.

More Spurs changes followed, with Savio on for Kudus and Maddison for Gallagher. After another play-out mix-up at the back Szoboszlai thankfully failed to take advantage.

Spurs' tails were up and Liverpool's defence was under pressure. Robertson delivered a free kick and with Bergvall challenging, we won a corner. A Marmoush shot from the left of the area was well saved. Maddison had a right-footed effort from distance saved after Fernandes' pass.

Liverpool wanted a penalty for handball by Tosin when he was struck from short range in the box and Iraola was booked for his protests. Savio was off target with a right-footed shot after Bergvall's pass. The game was sealed in the first minute of added time when Szoboszlai took a pass from Gakpo and hit the net with a rocket shot from fully 25 yards out.

We have to come back to Anfield in our last pre-Christmas fixture in three months' time, when our 15-year quest for a win as rare as hens' teeth will continue.

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