Published: September 16, 2026
- Lewis Koumas named man of the match as Liverpool beat Spurs 3-1
- Iraola applauds McConnell, Nyoni and Ngumoha for tireless shifts
- Szoboszlai seals it late after Mac Allister and Gakpo strikes
On a night that belonged to Liverpool’s academy grads, Andoni Iraola couldn’t hide his grin. The head coach raved about the impact of Lewis Koumas, branding the 20-year-old’s energy “contagious” as the Reds saw off Tottenham 3-1 in the Carabao Cup third round.
Kids Set the Tempo, Big Guns Watch On
Koumas, making just his fifth senior appearance, led the line with the confidence of a seasoned No 9, keeping the visiting defence honest for 86 relentless minutes while £125m record buy Alexander Isak stayed in reserve. It wasn’t just about the goal threat; it was the pressing, the runs, the example he set. When your centre-forward sprints like that, the rest have to follow.
He wasn’t alone. James McConnell (22) knitted things together, Trey Nyoni (19) showed real personality in midfield, and winger Rio Ngumoha stretched Spurs at every opportunity. As Iraola put it, they emptied the tank—cramp, heavy legs, the lot—exactly what you want from hungry squad players trying to change a manager’s mind. If you’re weighing up form and futures on the best football betting sites, this new-wave Liverpool is worth tracking.
Despite a star-studded bench—new signings Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet, plus Alisson Becker and Dominik Szoboszlai—the kids took centre stage. Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put the hosts 2-0 up, Tottenham’s Conor Gallagher briefly made it nervy, and then Szoboszlai unleashed a stoppage-time screamer to slam the door.
Iraola, who made 10 changes from the flat weekend draw with Fulham, wanted fresh legs and got exactly that—intensity, aggression, and control in the big moments. As he said, Liverpool earned the right to be in the next round.
Spurs Need End Product, De Zerbi Admits
For Roberto De Zerbi, there was at least the minor relief of seeing his side finally find the net, but the message was blunt: shoot more, finish better. He pointed to a rough run of luck, yet you can’t live on caveats for long. Spurs had moments, but not enough conviction when it mattered.
The upshot? Liverpool’s youngsters have thrown down a marker and given Iraola a pleasant selection headache, with Koumas at the heart of it—his spark setting the tone for a cup run that suddenly looks very interesting.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
Key contributions:
As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:
“Great content, like great football, is all about the fundamentals”
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