Dominik Szoboszlai scored a wonderful volley late in the move to book Liverpool‘sa fourth round of the EFL Cup with a 3-1 defeat of Tottenham at Anfield.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola made 10 changes from the draw with Fulham at the weekend but they appeared on course for a comfortable night against struggling Spurs after Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put them 2-0 up.
But Tottenham showed a spirit that has often been lacking in their winless start Premier League season, and Conor Gallagher gave them hope of a reaction.
Liverpool’s Giorgi Mamardashvili was the busier of the two keepers as Tottenham pushed for an equalizer that would have forced penalties, but Szoboszlai took that chance out of the equation with a remarkable long-range volley that left Martin Dubravka with no chance and capped another disappointing night for Roberto De Zerbi’s men.
Tottenham dominated the early stages and would have taken the lead had Mamardashvili not shown excellent reflexes to keep out Lucas Bergvall’s effort from distance with his legs.
Dubravka saved well from Lewis Koumas at the other end but could do nothing to deny Mac Allister as Spurs were punished for failing to capitalize on their early advantage.
Mac Allister produced an instinctive finish to curl into the top right corner from the edge of the box after the ball broke to him following a challenge on Rio Ngumoha.
Mohammed Kudus spurned a chance to quickly restore parity when he turned in from close range with Destiny Udogie’s low cross, before Mac Allister deflected a free-kick just before the break.
Liverpool needed just nine minutes into the second half to make Tottenham rue their missed chances in the first even more, Gakpo illustrating why Spurs were interested in his services in the summer by turning the ball onto his right foot and firing past a defenseless Dubrvaka.
Still, Spurs posed more of a threat than they have in most of their Premier League games this season, and Kudus drew a strong save from Mamardashvili on the turn before Tottenham were deservedly rewarded for their attacking effort.
Tottenham’s hope came in the simplest of ways, with Gallagher rising to meet Matheus Fernandes’ corner and nodding home from point-blank range.
Liverpool pushed deeper and deeper as Spurs pushed to complete the comeback, with Omar Marmoush making a brilliant save from Mamardashvili and his ex-Manchester City forward Savio dragging the post after creating space in the box.
However, the nerves around Anfield were eased with a right-footed turn in the first minute of stoppage time, Szoboszlai sending Anfield into rapture as he cushioned the ball with his chest and allowed it to rebound before unleashing a 35-yard drive amid a deluge of rain to end Totham’s often expected comeback efforts.