Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles with converting chances persisted as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday at Anfield. The result underscored ongoing issues in front of goal for the North London club during the early stages of the season.

Liverpool took the lead in the 21st minute through Alexis Mac Allister, who opened the scoring with a well-placed finish, setting the tone for the home side. Tottenham responded in the second half, with Conor Gallagher pulling a goal back in the 69th minute, suggesting a potential shift in momentum. However, Liverpool extended their lead shortly after halftime when Cody Gakpo, a key target for Tottenham throughout the summer, scored with a deft right-footed strike that curled into the corner.

Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s manager, had unsuccessfully pursued Gakpo during the transfer window despite significant investment totaling around £320 million on other players. The missed opportunity to secure the Liverpool winger proved costly as Gakpo’s contribution was decisive.

The final blow came deep into stoppage time when Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai added a third goal in the first minute of added time, sealing the victory for the hosts. The result highlighted Tottenham’s difficulties in capitalizing on chances and the consequences of missed transfer targets.

Overall, Liverpool delivered a controlled and effective performance at Anfield, while Tottenham struggled to convert their efforts into meaningful results. The defeat adds to Tottenham’s early-season frustrations as they seek to find consistency under De Zerbi.