Tottenham Hotspur’s League Cup campaign ended in a 3-1 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool on Tuesday, as the north London club continued to struggle in a challenging start to the season. Liverpool secured progression to the fourth round thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, and a late, long-range strike by Dominik Szoboszlai in stoppage time. Conor Gallagher scored Tottenham’s lone goal after capitalizing on a defensive error, marking the team’s first goal against top-flight opposition in the current campaign.
The match featured significant lineup changes from both coaches following weekend draws—Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi made eight alterations from their 0-0 draw with Everton, while Liverpool’s Andoni Iraola made ten changes from the 1-1 draw with Fulham. Despite Tottenham’s early control and several promising chances by Lucas Bergvall and Mohammed Kudus, the visitors were ultimately undone by missed opportunities and Liverpool’s clinical finishing.
Mac Allister opened the scoring midway through the first half after a well-worked move, firing a precise shot into the top corner. Liverpool doubled their lead shortly after halftime, with Gakpo finishing emphatically following a series of intricate passes. Tottenham’s defensive lapses allowed Gallagher to reduce the deficit from a corner, but the comeback was halted by Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili’s key saves.
The standout moment of the match came in the final moments, when Szoboszlai unleashed a spectacular 25-yard shot that sealed Liverpool’s victory. Liverpool’s coach praised the forward’s composure and shooting reliability, describing the strike as a “worldie.”
De Zerbi acknowledged Tottenham’s shortcomings in front of goal and expressed frustration over the club’s run of poor results. The team has yet to register a win in their first four Premier League fixtures, a run that includes two losses and two draws. De Zerbi described the current phase as a “tough moment” and attributed some of the difficulties to bad luck, referencing previous matches against Newcastle, Everton, and Nottingham Forest.
Despite heavy investment in new signings exceeding £300 million following two consecutive 17th-place finishes, Tottenham’s form remains a concern. De Zerbi, who took over late last season to help the club avoid relegation, defended his approach and expressed confidence in the players and the direction the team is headed. “I believe in my players, I have big confidence, a big opinion of my players,” he said. “We have to be stronger in these unlucky moments and understand if we are on the right way or not.”
Liverpool, despite fielding a largely rotated squad, demonstrated depth and sharpness, particularly from their younger players who contributed energy and quality throughout the match. The victory reinforced Liverpool’s status as they advance in the League Cup, while Tottenham face the ongoing challenge of reversing their early-season fortunes.