Liverpool FC

In an entertaining contest, Alexis Mac Allister gave the Reds an early lead courtesy of a thumping first-time finish from the edge of the area.

Cody Gakpo doubled the home team’s lead soon after the interval with a drive across goal inside the box, but Conor Gallagher nodded in a corner from close range to get Spurs back into the tie.

However, a stunning long-range strike from Dominik Szoboszlai in stoppage time secured Liverpool’s place in Wednesday’s draw for the next stage of the tournament.

Team

Joe Gomez made his first appearance of the season after injury and took the captain’s armband as Andoni Iraola made 10 changes from the weekend fixture with Fulham.

Only Ronald Araujo kept a place in the XI as the Reds shuffled the pack for the cup tie.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez (Jacquet, 46), Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Frimpong, Araujo, Nyoni (Gravenberch, 62), McConnell (Szoboszlai, 62), Koumas (Isak, 86), Ngumoha (Barcola, 71).

Unused subs: Alisson, Endo, Munoz, Chambers.

First half

Tottenham fashioned the game’s first big chance after 11 minutes of play, but were thwarted by a fine save from Giorgi Mamardashvili.

A low ball into the area from the left found Lucas Bergvall unmarked in a central position eight yards out. His first-time, side-foot effort looked certain to find the back of the net, but it was deflected away by the knee of Liverpool’s goalkeeper.

Soon after, at the other end, Spurs had Martin Dubravka to thank for keeping the scoreline goalless as he denied Lewis Koumas in a one-on-one situation following a ball from Rio Ngumoha.

Then, with 21 played, a breakthrough.

Ngumoha collected a pass from Gakpo on the right of the box, ran at Destiny Udogie before cutting it back towards the centre of the area, allowing Mac Allister the opportunity to rasp a curling shot into the top corner.

In what was proving an absorbing first half, Tottenham had an opportunity on the counter when Mohammed Kudus scooped a cross from Udogie over the crossbar from close range.

Koumas saw an effort blocked by Marcos Senesi on the edge of the area before he had a cutback deflected into the path of Mac Allister at point-blank range, but the midfielder couldn’t bring it under control as Liverpool threatened a second before the break.

Second half

Jeremy Jacquet replaced Gomez at the interval for the home side, who would add that second goal soon after the restart.

Kerkez touched off an Ngumoha pass into the path of Mac Allister, who in turn played it to Gakpo inside the left channel of the area. The forward checked onto his right foot past Archie Gray and drove a crisp shot across goal and into the far corner.

Spurs sent on Liverpool legend Andy Robertson in the aftermath, with the Scotland international afforded a standing ovation from all inside Anfield.

Just after the hour, Mamardashvili showed smart reflexes to keep out a snap-shot from Kudus towards the near bottom corner of his goal.

A last-ditch challenge from Milos Kerkez then denied Omar Marmoush the chance to get a clear shot in at goal from well inside the box.

However, Spurs’ endeavours paid off when Gallagher headed in from a corner inside the six-yard box to reduce the deficit with 21 minutes of normal time remaining.

As the game ticked towards full-time, Szoboszlai was foiled by Dubravka after a high press from the goalkeeper’s attempt to play out allowed Mac Allister to nudge him in on goal.

Bergvall headed against Kerkez and Mamardashvili produced a fine one-handed stop to frustrate Marmoush as Tottenham pressured once more.

In a frantic finale, substitute Alexander Isak had shot blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo, with the forward claiming a hand was used, and Savio poked off target for Spurs.

However, the tie was settled in Liverpool’s favour when Szoboszlai spectacularly lashed a bouncing ball into the net from a central position 25 yards out in stoppage time, putting the outcome beyond doubt.

Attendance: 60,169

The defender makes his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury as Andoni Iraola makes 10 changes, with only Ronald Araujo retaining a place in the XI from the weekend draw with Fulham.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Frimpong, Araujo, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.

The all-Premier League tie will kick off at 8pm BST at Anfield.

If the game finishes level at the end of 90 minutes, extra-time will not be played. A penalty shootout would decide which team advances to the next stage.

There will be no Video Assistant Referee in operation for the match.

Andrew Madley is the referee, with Wade Smith and Richard West his assistants. The fourth official is Andrew Kitchen.

Both teams can name up to nine substitutes and five may be used at no more than three pauses in play (excluding half-time).

The fourth-round draw is scheduled for Wednesday night (September 16).

The Reds begin their campaign in the 2026-27 edition by hosting a Tottenham Hotspur squad, which now includes Andy Robertson, at Anfield in the third round.

It is a competition the club has won a record 10 times before in total, most recently in 2023-24 after Van Dijk headed in an extra-time winner in the Wembley final with Chelsea.

Writing in his column in the official matchday programme, the Liverpool captain says: "There is no doubt that we all left here disappointed after Saturday's game with Fulham, but tonight is a chance to put in a strong performance and get back to winning ways.

"The Carabao Cup will always be an important competition for this club, and it has given us many wonderful memories down the years.

"It was the first trophy I lifted as captain, in 2024, and I will never forget that day, that game, as long as I live. We all want to go as far as we can in the competition this season.

"Like I say, Saturday was disappointing. We didn't reach the levels we wanted, and we were not happy with either the result or the performance.

"After a good win against Atletico Madrid a few days earlier, where we showed a lot of good qualities, we wanted to follow that up against Fulham, and not being able to do that left us all frustrated.

"We have to take the point and move on, though. We are still unbeaten this season, and that at least gives us a platform to build on, if we can start turning the draws into wins.

"At Liverpool, you are expected to perform every three days. That is what playing for this club is all about, and thankfully tonight we get the opportunity to get back out there and show our best side again.

"It will, of course, be an emotional game tonight with the return of Andy Robertson.

"He hasn't been gone too long, but I know you will give him a fantastic reception and it will be good to see him – even if the sight of him not wearing a Liverpool kit will take some getting used to!

"In terms of the game, we know it will be tough, and we know we have to show we are capable of putting in strong performances on a consistent basis.

"The best teams don't just play well every few games, they go again and again, game after game, and that is what we have to do.

"I believe we will do that. I know the work that we are putting in each day on the training pitch, and now it's about doing it in the games and finding that consistency in our performance levels.

"If we do that, the results will follow for sure."

Get your copy of the matchday programme at Anfield or buy via our online store

Inside the edition, we hear from Giorgi Mamardashvili on his first year at Anfield, working with new goalkeeping coach Alejandro Rosalen and targeting a successful second season.

Meanwhile, we also hear from young midfielder Trey Nyoni as he looks to build on his progress with the Reds under the guidance of Andoni Iraola.

The head coach offers his thoughts in his regular column, as does captain Virgil van Dijk.

U21s head coach Rob Page analyses his team's start to the Premier League 2 season, while former Liverpool centre-back Gary Gillespie previews the meeting with Spurs.

We revive some League Cup memories from two Merseyside derbies against Tranmere Rovers in 1979-80, look back at the matchday programme produced for the 1982 League Cup final between Liverpool and Tottenham, and feature a special photograph containing two legendary managers of the Reds and Spurs.

A decade on from signing for Liverpool, we look at the latest chapter in the career of former fan favourite Georginio Wijnaldum, there is an update on LFC Women, plus some teasers for younger supporters with a focus on Conor Bradley.

The Reds begin their latest journey in a competition they have won an unrivalled 10 times when Tottenham Hotspur arrive tonight for a round-three tie.

As a busy period continues, Iraola's side are also seeking a return to winning ways after a goalless Premier League draw with Fulham at the weekend.

"I said after Saturday's draw against Fulham that we need to adapt to the challenge of playing fixtures close together and tonight's game gives us a chance to start taking steps on that journey," the head coach writes in his notes for the official matchday programme.

"There is no point making excuses or complaining about the time that we have to recover. This kind of situation is going to happen many times this season, so we have to face it and make the best of it.

"This doesn't necessarily mean I expect us to be at our very best in every single game that we play, but we should certainly be aiming for higher performance levels than we were able to reach at the weekend and we should also be finding ways to win.

"I say this because we want to be playing in the Champions League for as long as we can this season and we also want to be in the cup competitions for as long as we can.

"In these circumstances, adapting to a quick turnaround in games is clearly not only something we want to be good at – it is an absolute necessity.

"Football will not wait for us either so the sooner we can meet this challenge the better. Ideally, that would be tonight because that would definitely improve our chances of making it through to the next round of the Carabao Cup.

"This is a competition, like all of the others, that we want to do well in. This will be the same for all of the participating clubs, of course, but our history in the Carabao Cup in all of its many guises gives us an extra incentive because we know what it means to Liverpool and to our supporters.

"At the time of writing these notes, it is still too early to say which team I will select. This will depend on so many factors like recovery, how we train, the availability of players and the wider demands of this week as a whole, but the one guarantee I can make is that the team will be picked with the aim of giving us the best chance of making progress.

"We have a number of players who deserve more minutes than I have been able to give them up to this point so that will come into my thinking, particularly as we also have players who have already given a lot.

"But as I said, whatever team takes to the field will be one that I fully believe is ready to perform and equipped to take on a Tottenham team which also wants to reach the next round.

"The advantage we have is that we are at home. I have spoken many times of the advantage that Anfield can give to us – but only if we use it in the right way. We know that if we push as a team the people will be with us. That is a given.

"Every single Liverpool supporter who attends tonight's game will be doing so because they want to see us perform and to give us as much help as possible to do that.

"This is not a pressure, it is a privilege, one that we should and will embrace, not just tonight but in every game that we play."

Get your copy of the matchday programme at Anfield or buy via our online store

The featured image shows the Reds' Central League title-winning side of 1956-57 and includes two future legendary managers.

A young Bob Paisley is the up-and-coming Liverpool coach, proudly posing with his victorious reserve team, while standing on the far left of the back row is a fresh-faced Keith Burkinshaw, a name that will be instantly recognisable to Spurs fans of a certain vintage.

Like Paisley, Burkinshaw is better known for what he would go on to achieve in the managerial hotseat. The pair would cross swords many times in later years, most notably in the League Cup final at Wembley in 1982, which Liverpool won 3-1.

In the mid-1950s, though, the Barnsley-born defender was a promising young centre-half, attempting to make his way through the ranks at Anfield.

On Easter Monday 1955, he was called up to make his senior debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Port Vale, but it would prove to be his one and only senior Liverpool appearance.

Over the next couple of years, Burkinshaw continued to toil away in the club's second string and played 28 times under Paisley in the campaign that saw Liverpool crowned champions of the Central League for the first time.

The following season, he left to join Workington and went on to finish his playing career with Scunthorpe United.

As a coach at Newcastle United, Burkinshaw came up against Liverpool in the 1974 FA Cup final, before being appointed Tottenham manager in 1976.

During an eight-year spell at White Hart Lane, he guided Spurs to successive FA Cup triumphs in the early 1980s and UEFA Cup glory in 1984. Only Bill Nicholson enjoyed greater success as Tottenham manager, and he is rightly considered one of the most revered figures in their history.

Now 91, Burkinshaw is Liverpool's second-oldest surviving former player.

This article has been reproduced from today's official matchday programme.

To visit the new and improved LFC Museum, which is included in all Anfield tours and experiences, book via liverpoolfc.com/stadium-tours

The Reds shared the points with Spurs on Sunday as Aurélie Csillag's header cancelled out Sam Kerr's own goal.

See the key moments of the game at St Helens Stadium in the video above.

The head coach will attend a press conference at the AXA Training Centre ahead of his side's fixture with Spurs on Tuesday (8pm BST kick-off) at Anfield.

See everything he has to say by returning to this page to watch our YouTube stream.

The Reds trailed at half-time after Signe Gaupset's cross was deflected into the net by Sam Kerr.

But Csillag's header on the hour mark secured a deserved point for Gareth Taylor's team.

Natalia Ramos was handed a first competitive start for the Reds as she replaced Kirsty Maclean in the starting line-up, while Sophie Roman Haug returned from long-term injury to take a place on the bench.

The game started at pace with both sides looking to get on the front foot and find an opening goal at St Helens Stadium.

Liverpool, however, edged the early play and chances in what was a fairly even contest.

Ceri Holland and Cornelia Kapocs both saw shots saved and fly wide, while Beata Olsson also threatened with a headed opportunity.

Tottenham, meanwhile, were being limited to crosses into the area with goalkeeper Khiara Keating mostly sweeping up loose balls.

As the half continued, the two teams largely cancelled each other out with big chances in front of goal at a premium.

It took a huge stroke of luck to break the deadlock just ahead of the half-time interval and it was the visitors who got themselves in front.

Gaupset was the Tottenham player who produced the key moment for her side, racing into the box to attempt a delivery from the left side.

As a result, her cross deflected via the retreating Kerr, looping over stopper Keating and falling into the back of the net.

Csillag was introduced after the break in response to the opening goal by head coach Taylor.

Her first involvement was to see a penalty claim waved away, while her second on the hour led to parity restored with Liverpool on the attack.

It was a clever bit of play from the Reds to unlock the Tottenham defence, as Kapocs played a ball to Fuka Nagano on the right wing.

The midfielder's delivery swung into the area and Csillag sprinted across and in front of her marker to greet the ball with a well-timed header to score.

Following the goal, Liverpool pushed on in search of the lead as they dominated possession.

Vivien Endemann saw another penalty appeal for the Reds turned down, while Ramos had a driven shot saved by Lize Kop.

Csillag then shot over following a delivery from substitute Alice Bergstrom, before the winger herself produced a dazzling run into the box only for Kop's push over the bar deny her a goal.

At the other end, Olivia Holdt forced Keating into a strong save to her left following a curling effort in a rare Tottenham advance.

Liverpool almost won it late on, as Marie Höbinger slid Csillag into the area, though Kop was out quickly to block her effort as she attempted to round the goalkeeper.

Team

Liverpool: Keating, Kerr, Clark, Fisk, Bernabe, Nagano, Ramos, Endemann (Bergstrom, 78), Holland (Höbinger, 65), Kapocs, Olsson, (Csillag, 46).

Unused subs: Laws, Roman H., Enderby, Woodham, Agrez, Trueman.

Next up

The Reds visit Manchester City for matchday three of the new Barclays Women's Super League season on Friday (September 18).

Kick-off at Joie Stadium is 7pm BST. View ticket details here.