Gakpo haunts Tottenham as Liverpool advance in Carabao Cup with 3-1 win

Liverpool progressed in the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Tottenham that exposed a lingering regret in the London club's project. Andoni Iraola made ten changes to his starting line-up, trusted several academy players and kept his biggest names in reserve, yet his side still controlled the tie. Cody Gakpo, the winger Spurs chased throughout the summer, scored and assisted to punish a team still waiting for a domestic trophy since 2008.

• Liverpool won 3-1 with ten changes to the starting eleven and advanced to the next round of the Carabao Cup.
• Cody Gakpo, a summer target for Tottenham, scored the second goal and added an assist.
• Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box and Dominik Szoboszlai sealed the win in stoppage time.
• Conor Gallagher scored Tottenham's only goal, ending a long drought against Premier League opposition.
• Academy players Lewis Koumas, James McConnell and Trey Nyoni started and set the tone with their energy.

Gakpo, the signing Tottenham missed, comes back to haunt them

Cody Gakpo's name carried extra meaning against Tottenham, the club that tried to sign him during the summer. The Dutch winger angled a right-footed finish past debutant goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to make it 2-0. He also provided an assist and wore the captain's armband for much of the night, underlining his growing importance to this Liverpool side.

His form stands in stark contrast to the wide player Spurs eventually recruited, Mykhailo Mudryk, who is already sidelined through injury. Gakpo has registered two goals and four assists this season and has become a central figure for Iraola. The winger showed exactly why Virgil van Dijk urged Liverpool not to sell his fellow Dutchman.

Mac Allister and Szoboszlai produce two stunning finishes

The opener came from the edge of the box, an area Alexis Mac Allister is turning into his personal shooting range. The Argentine unleashed a clean strike that flew into the top corner and sparked a roaring response from Anfield, where his name rang out for much of the match. Days after a similar goal against Atletico Madrid, Mac Allister again proved his worth in midfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai started on the bench but made an immediate impact when called upon. The Hungarian unleashed an unstoppable long-range half-volley in added time that found the top corner, securing the win and delivering one of the best goals seen at Anfield this season.

Liverpool's academy players repay Iraola's faith

Iraola dropped the expensive forward pairing of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz and handed starts to academy products Lewis Koumas and James McConnell. Koumas made his first Liverpool start in two and a half years and set the tone with relentless running from the front. His work rate lifted those around him and highlighted the lack of urgency in the Tottenham side.

The young forward was denied a goal by Dubravka, but his pressing and movement were crucial to Liverpool's approach. The presence of Trey Nyoni in the line-up as well showed that Iraola's trust in youth is more than a short-term experiment.

Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham fall short and suffer another cup exit

Roberto De Zerbi left several of his most expensive signings on the bench and his team took too long to find any urgency. Tottenham created chances but struggled to convert them until Conor Gallagher headed in a corner from Mateus Fernandes. It was their first goal against Premier League opposition since Joao Palhinha struck against Everton in May.

Wastefulness in front of goal defined the night for the visitors. Mohammed Kudus, starting for the first time since January, missed a glaring close-range volley. Lucas Bergvall was denied by an inspired Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose late saves protected Liverpool's lead during a frantic finish. The Georgian goalkeeper proved decisive in keeping Tottenham at bay.

What this Carabao Cup result means for Liverpool and Tottenham

Liverpool stay alive in a competition they have historically dominated with remarkable consistency. The victory allows Iraola to manage minutes across a congested season while strengthening internal competition for places. The impressive display from the club's youngest players also raises fair questions about the starting roles of some established names.

Tottenham, meanwhile, see one of the two competitions in which they had realistic title ambitions slip away. De Zerbi's decision to bench several big-money arrivals backfired and leaves the Italian under growing pressure. An 18-year wait for a domestic trophy looks set to continue for a project still searching for the consistency required to compete with the country's elite.