Reds progress at Anfield
Our Carabao Cup involvement ended at Anfield on Tuesday night as Liverpool scored three superb goals to knock us out, despite our brave fightback in the second half.
We created a host of great chances throughout the game with Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus and Omar Marmoush all going close but the home side went into a two-goal lead thanks to fine goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
Conor Gallagher got us back in the contest with a headed goal and we had Liverpool on the ropes towards the end of the game, only for Dominik Szoboszlai to hit a stunning stoppage-time strike to finally end our resurgence.
Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made eight changes from Saturday’s goalless draw with Everton, with Martin Dubravka making his debut and Tosin Adarabioyo his first start, while Kudus was in the starting line-up for the first time since 4 January. Liverpool made 10 changes to their side from the weekend, only Ronald Araujo keeping his place.
The opening stages saw us on the front foot and we began well, carving out a wonderful chance in the 11th minute. Gallagher pushed the ball out wide left to Destiny Udogie whose low cross landed at the feet of Bergvall and he looked like he couldn’t miss, only for his side-footed shot to flick off the boot of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and Liverpool cleared.
At the other end, Dubravka made a fine stop of his own five minutes later, dashing off his line to block Lewis Koumas’ effort after a lovely through ball from Rio Ngumoha. A further five minutes on though and the home side took the lead, Udogie with a foot in to tackle Ngumoha only for the ball to fall perfectly for Mac Allister to drive right-footed into the top corner from the edge of the box.
It was an even contest, play swinging from end to end without either keeper really being worked although we had another glorious opportunity to level on the counter on 32 minutes, Udogie again the architect with a ball into the box but Kudus was unable to keep his volley down and it flew over the bar.
We needed a good start to the second period but instead conceded the second goal nine minutes into the half. It was a well-worked move for Liverpool involving Ngumoha, Mac Allister, Milos Kerkez and Gakpo, the latter receiving the ball inside the box down the left and he cut onto his right and hit a searing shot past Dubravka.
Tosin looked for a swift reply but fired wide with a 25-yard drive just a minute later before we introduced Andy Robertson and Mateus Fernandes for Udogie and Bentancur, Robertson receiving a warm welcome from the fans of his former club. We went close again in the 61st minute, Omar Marmoush doing well before finding Kudus whose first-time shot was well saved by Mamardashvili.
We finally got the goal we deserved on 69 minutes and, in the end, it was as simple as they come. Gallagher had a shot which deflected away for a corner and from the set-piece, Fernandes’ cross was headed in at the back post by Gallagher to get us back in the game. It was just the boost we needued and we started to put some pressure on the Liverpool defence although we couldn’t find that one big chance and instead, it really should have been 3-1, Mac Allister playing in Szoboszlai with only Dubravka to beat but his weak shot was easily saved.
With just four minutes remaining, we were denied an equaliser by a fantastic save from Mamardashvili, who stuck out a hand to divert Marmoush’s deflected effort away before Savio dragged wide after working his way into a good position. In between those chances, Alexander Isak had a shot blocked by Tosin just seconds after coming off the bench. In the end though, we were undone by a moment of magic from Szoboszlai. The clock had just ticked over into stoppage time when the Liverpool man chested Isak’s pass down and hit a 30-yard half-volley that flew into the top corner to end our valiant fightback.
Line-ups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Araujo, Gomez (c) (Jacquet 46), Kerkez, Nyoni (Gravenberch 62), Mac Allister, Ngumoha (Barcola 72), McConnell (Szoboszlai 62), Gakpo, Koumas (Isak 86). Substitutes (not used): Allison, Endo, Munoz, Chambers.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Dubravka, Gray (c), Senesi, Tosin, Udogie (Robertson 57), Bentancur (Fernandes 57), Bergvall, Kudus (Savio 75), Gallagher (Maddison 75), Tel (Solanke 85), Marmoush. Substitutes (not used): Kinsky, Davies, Van Hecke, van de Ven.
Match data
Goals: Liverpool – Mac Allister 21, Gakpo 54, Szoboszlai 90+1; Spurs – Gallagher 69.
Yellow cards: Liverpool – Araujo, Frimpong, Kerkez; Spurs – Marmoush, Bentancur.
Referee: Andy Madley.
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool.
Weather: Rain showers, moderate breeze, 15 degrees.