Szoboszlai's stunning strike knocks De Zerbi's Tottenham out as Liverpool cruise through

Liverpool sealed their passage to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a resounding victory over Tottenham at Anfield. Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and substitute Dominik Szoboszlai each delivered finishes of the highest order as Roberto De Zerbi's side paid the price for their continued wastefulness in front of goal.

• Mac Allister scored from distance for the second consecutive match at Anfield.
• Gakpo and Szoboszlai added two spectacular goals to complete the scoring.
• Tottenham controlled lengthy spells but squandered clear chances in the first half.
• Liverpool fielded a heavily rotated lineup and still proved far too strong.

Liverpool progress in the Carabao Cup with a ruthless display

There was no surprise in the home manager's decision to make wholesale changes following the weekend draw with Fulham. Ten new faces came into the side, with Ronald Araújo the only player retaining his place and Joe Gomez making his first start of the season alongside him in central defence. Even so, Liverpool kept their identity and ultimately imposed their authority on the contest.

De Zerbi also made eight changes from the stalemate against Everton, but the script remained largely the same. Tottenham started brightly, controlled the tempo and dominated possession, yet once again lacked composure in the final third. The issues that have hampered the team in the Premier League followed them into the cup competition.

Tottenham's missed chances open the door for Liverpool

Lucas Bergvall was handed the first real opportunity of the night when Destiny Udogie's low cross deflected into his path inside the box. The midfielder made clean contact, but Giorgi Mamardashvili produced an excellent save with his leg to deny him. Moments later, Mohammed Kudus volleyed over from just four yards out after another inviting delivery from Udogie. Mathys Tel also failed to capitalise when well placed inside the area.

Liverpool punished that indecision. By the 15th minute the hosts had begun to turn the game their way, and the breakthrough arrived through a flowing move finished by Mac Allister from the edge of the box. The Argentine opened his body and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of Martin Dubravka's goal, repeating the formula he had used at Anfield only days earlier.

Mac Allister and Gakpo underline Liverpool's superiority

The second goal came nine minutes after the restart and was carved from another intricate build-up. James McConnell and Rio Ngumoha were both heavily involved before Milos Kerkez found Mac Allister in space. Rather than shoot, the midfielder played a first-time pass through for Gakpo, who stepped inside a soft challenge and beat Dubravka with an angled drive. The Kop, which had groaned when Mac Allister declined to shoot, quickly changed its tune.

Lewis Koumas led the line with energy and industry throughout, coming close to opening the scoring in the first half when Dubravka did just enough to smother his effort. The young forward's aggressive pressing set the tone for a performance that the coaching staff will want to see repeated across the attacking unit.

Gallagher's header gives Tottenham a late consolation

At 2-0 down, the visitors continued to create promising situations around the Liverpool box without truly troubling Mamardashvili. Their away support, however, refused to go quiet. That persistence was rewarded from a set piece: the Georgian goalkeeper failed to deal with a corner delivered by substitute Mateus Fernandes, and Conor Gallagher was left unmarked at the far post to nod the ball in from close range.

The goal gave Spurs fresh hope, and Omar Marmoush almost equalised when his deflected effort forced a superb stretching save from Mamardashvili, who atoned for his earlier mistake. At the other end, Tosin Adarabioyo escaped twice: first after a wayward pass gifted Szoboszlai a gilt-edged chance that Dubravka saved, and then when a cross from Alexander Isak struck his arm inside the area. With no VAR in operation, the decision went unpunished.

Szoboszlai seals Liverpool's place with a spectacular finish

Tottenham's reprieve did not last long. Deep into stoppage time, Szoboszlai controlled a flick from Gakpo on his chest before unleashing a fabulous strike from 25 yards that flew beyond Dubravka. It was a fitting end to a night in which Liverpool were simply more clinical in both boxes.

The win puts Liverpool among the last 16 of the competition and extends their strong run at Anfield. For De Zerbi, meanwhile, the questions continue to mount: his Tottenham side competes in spells and creates openings, but the lack of a cutting edge keeps costing them dearly.

Elsewhere in the Carabao Cup

Peterborough reached the fourth round for the first time since 2009 with a 7-6 penalty shootout victory over Barnsley after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Harrison Jones converted the decisive spot-kick after Alex Bass saved a tame effort from Luke Alker.

Brentford booked their place with a 2-1 win over Reading. Callum Wilson and Fábio Carvalho were on target in the first half to put the Premier League side in control, and although Paudie O'Connor pulled one back to set up a tense finish, the hosts held on to advance.

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