Key events<\/p>\n
HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur<\/p>\n
Mac Allister blazes the free kick over the bar, and that\u2019s the end of an open and entertaining first half. The Argentinian scored a fine goal, both keepers have made one crucial stop, and Kudus has missed a sitter. It\u2019s been fun.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min +3: \u2026 but now Bentancur is booked for nudging the in-flight Gakpo from behind, just to the right of the D. With Szoboszlai on the bench, Mac Allister looks in the mood to pull rank here. He prepares to take.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min +2: Senesi barges aggressively into McConnell, having arrived late for a 50-50. The referee, having just booked Frimpong and Marmoush for bugger all, decides a lecture is enough punishment this time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min: There will be two additional minutes tacked onto the end of this first half.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 min: Gomez goes long. Senesi heads back to Dubravka, who claims on the edge of his box, but only just in time, with Gakpo lurking. That was a risky ball back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min: Now Marmoush goes into the book for clipping McConnell a little bit late. That was a free kick, nothing more. Marmoush as deflated as Frimpong. The referee getting a bit card-happy here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min: Frimpong wins a battle with Tel down the Tottenham left \u2026 and is booked for nothing at all. Aurajo\u2019s yellow card was as obvious as it gets; this one not so much, and Frimpong is understandably non-plussed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 min: McConnell and Koumas combine down the inside-right channel, the latter cutting back for Mac Allister, six yards out. Mac Allister can\u2019t sort his feet, the ball clanking off his shin and wide right.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min: A Liverpool<\/a> corner on the left leads to a second on the right. From that one, hit long, Koumas crosses low from the left. Had Gakpo taken a better touch, he\u2019d have been spinning and shooting from eight yards. But there\u2019s no better touch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min: Araujo is booked for the clearest of pull-backs on Marmoush. Seconds before, McConnell had been clumsily bundled over in the box from behind by Senesi. No penalty. VAR might have taken a look at that, you know. But there\u2019s no VAR.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min: Koumas nearly gets in ahead of Tosin down the left. Tosin turns the ball behind for a corner. A smart routine between Mac Allister and Kerkez leads to the former whipping into the middle. Ngumoha can\u2019t win a header, then when the ball breaks to Nyoni, the young midfielder\u2019s shot is blocked. There are definitely more goals in this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min: The loudest cheer of the night so far \u2013 apart from the goal, though there\u2019s not much in it \u2013 as Andy Robertson warms up and is serenaded by his old fans.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32 min: Bergvall and Udogie combine neatly down the left, Liverpool\u2019s defence all over the shop. Udogie whips a low cross into the middle. Kudus gets in ahead of Kerkez, six yards out, and has to score \u2026 but somehow blazes over the bar. What a miss!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 min: Marmoush curls the corner to the near stick. Koumas bashes it clear with an authoritative header. Meanwhile here\u2019s Andy (Not That One) Flintoff: \u201cAfter a summer of unwanted US innovations into football (effectively splitting the game into quarters, the ultra-long half-time show for the final), one which we could import into football that would be welcomed is NFL\u2019s colour system, where one team plays in dark shirts and one in light for maximum contrast.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min: Marmoush wins another free kick, getting properly clattered this time, by Mac Allister out on the right touchline. He curls it into the mixer, forcing Gomez to eyebrow out for a corner on the left. He takes a whack from Tosin, foreheads clashing, but he\u2019ll be fine to continue.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27 min: Marmoush picks off a loose pass from Gomez, and guards it from McConnell, who can\u2019t stop clanking into the Spurs striker\u2019s back, 25 yards out. He goes over easily for a cheap free kick, then curls the set piece he\u2019d won harmlessly wide left of the target.<\/p>\n Tottenham Hotspur’s Omar Marmoush fires his free kick wide of the Liverpool goal. Photograph: Paul Ellis\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.50 EDT<\/p>\n 25 min: That\u2019ll have settled Liverpool<\/a>, and suddenly Spurs are subdued. To be fair to Liverpool, they\u2019d been growing into the game before opening the scoring.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 23 min: A fortunate deflection for Liverpool<\/a> there, and they\u2019d been second best for the most part, but what a finish by Mac Allister, who did something fairly similar when Arne Slot\u2019s side sealed the 2024-25 Premier League title here against these opponents. Pinged towards the top right, Dubravka rooted and with no chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Mac Allister 21)<\/p>\n Gakpo cuts in from the left and finds Ngumoha on the other flank. Ngumoha dribbles infield and his low pass into the box is deflected towards Mac Allister, who meets it on the edge of the box by opening his body and power-steering a sidefooter into the top right. Delicious finish!<\/p>\n All eyes are on the ball as a shot by Liverpool\u2019s Alexis Mac Allister heads towards the Spurs goal. Photograph: Scott Heppell\/ReutersLiverpool fans and Mac Allister celebrate. Photograph: Michael Regan\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.35 EDT<\/p>\n 20 min: Ngumoha tries another dribble down the right but the road is blocked this time. \u201cAm I just getting old or are these kits too similar to tell apart?\u201d wonders Adam Kent Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez. It\u2019s certainly not very thoughtful to colour-blind supporters. A red-white contrast would work just fine; red-navy not so much.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18 min: Kerkez bustles down the left and makes something out of nothing, bursting into a bit of space before digging out a cross that\u2019s too high for McConnell in the middle. The crowd enjoyed that, though, and perhaps Liverpool<\/a> are beginning to find a foothold in this match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min: Ngumoha drops a shoulder to make himself a pocket of space 30 yards out. He slips a pass down the inside-right channel for Koumas, who spins Senesi but can\u2019t force his shot past Dubravka, who spreads himself to block. Both keepers have now made a fine goal-saving stop.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14 min: Sky flash up a stat: Spurs have made 20 successful passes in the opposition\u2019s final third to Liverpool\u2019s three. Slightly surprised Liverpool<\/a> have made that many, to be honest. They\u2019ve been taken aback by Tottenham\u2019s positive start.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min: A rare sortie for Liverpool<\/a> in Spurs territory, as Ngumoha probes down the right and crosses. The ball\u2019s deflected into the arms of Dubravka, who has otherwise had nothing to do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11 min: Udogie burns down the left and fires a low cross into the Liverpool<\/a> box. Bergvall is free, eight yards out. He opens his body and sidefoots powerfully towards the bottom left. Mamardashvili, diving the other way, sticks up a leg and blocks. That\u2019s a spectacular reaction stop, and has cost Bergvall a certain goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 min: Spurs are dominating these early exchanges. They\u2019re winning everything in the middle of the park. A third of the play so far has been in Liverpool\u2019s final third. Kudus cuts in from the right and shoots; Gomez blocks. Then shanks a clearance out for a throw, much to the Kop\u2019s chagrin. Liverpool<\/a> looking as nervous as Spurs are assured.<\/p>\n Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall surges forwards at Liverpool. Photograph: Jon Super\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.44 EDT<\/p>\n 8 min: It\u2019s suddenly raining reasonably heavily on Merseyside. Perfect conditions for some slick passing. So having said that, Gray throws long down the right touchline, forcing Gomez to poke behind for the first corner of the match. Frimpong and Nyoni combine to clear Kudus\u2019s far-post delivery.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min: A bit of space for Koumas down the right. He\u2019s got no real options in the box, but wouldn\u2019t have found them anyway, as he loops a harmless ball over to the opposite flank and away from danger.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min: Gakpo drives with purpose down the inside-left channel, but is stopped in his tracks by a fine sliding block from Bergvall. Spurs have started confidently at both ends of the park.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min: Kerkez was outside the box, but that\u2019s a reminder of there being no VAR tonight. No interminable check to make sure.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min: Gallagher scampers down the right and crosses. Kerkez slides along the ground, his arm well above his head, and deflects the ball to Mamardashvili \u2026 off his hand. A free kick just outside the box. Kudus crosses, but Araujo deals with it. He tries again and the keeper claims this time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min: There have been a few concerns about Mamardashvili\u2019s distribution with his feet \u2026 and he whistles his first pass, a simple one towards Kerkez on the left, out of play. He looks suitably sheepish. No real harm done, though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n After a quick blast of You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone, Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> get the ball rolling. They\u2019re kicking towards the Kop in this first half. Meanwhile Ian Copestake replies to krishnamoorthy v: \u201cI could have crossed the road faster but I have to get my kicks somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The teams are out at Anfield. Liverpool<\/a> the red men, Spurs the lilywhites, exactly as it should be Spurs in dark navy with diagonal swirls of electric pink, bright orange, and neon purple. A fine atmosphere at Anfield; Andy Robertson seemed super-pleased to catch up with a few of his old pals. That was a sweet moment. Not long now for the rerun of the 1982 final!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pre-match postbag. \u201cGreat to see Joe Gomez back. However, I predict a muscle strain on 23 minutes sadly\u201d \u2013 Jesse Davies<\/p>\n \u201cIt (probably) won\u2019t happen but would anything be funnier than 0-0 after 90 minutes, then Tottenham missing their first three pens and Liverpool<\/a> going through?\u201d \u2013 Dave Estherby<\/p>\n \u201cI have seen a lot many optimists in my life but none so optimistic as you who equates fun with Spurs. Watching Tottenham play these days is equivalent to watching an arthritic old man cross the road at a signal when you are already running late\u201d \u2013 krishnamoorthy v<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Andoni Iraola speaks to Sky Sports. \u201cWe decided to change a lot of the team \u2026 we needed fresh legs \u2026 we have a lot of players willing to have a good performance \u2026 get us to the next round \u2026 also looking forward to seeing those players \u2026 I am sure they will take that chance \u2026 it\u2019s a great chance to see [the younger players] \u2026 if we put them in, it\u2019s because we think they are ready to help us and ready to perform \u2026 we will get a lot of information from this game \u2026 it is a matter of execution and keeping calm \u2026 I trust them \u2026 I hope they do well \u2026 we know we will face a strong team \u2026 but I trust my players.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is all a bit of a back-of-envelope scribble, so if I\u2019ve forgotten someone you\u2019ll have to sue me*, but it\u2019s just occurred to me that quite a lot of the players on the team-sheets tonight have already tasted League Cup glory. For Liverpool<\/a>, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Waturo Endo, Kostas Tsimikas and James McConnell played in either the 2022 or 2024 final victories over Chelsea, with Alisson, Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas getting medals for being on the bench in 2024, also Dominik Szoboszlai despite being injured. In addition, Alexander Isak scored for Newcastle in their win over Liverpool in 2025. As for Spurs, Andy Robertson is the only one of tonight\u2019s squad to have played and won a final (for Liverpool) while Omar Marmoush and Savio were on the bench earlier this year for Manchester City\u2019s victory over Arsenal, just as Martin Dubravka watched on from the dugout while Newcastle won in 2025. Sandro Tonali isn\u2019t involved tonight, but he did play in that Newcastle victory, and can tell everyone about it when they get back.<\/p>\n * Please do not sue me.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Roberto De Zerbi speaks to Sky Sports. \u201cI am lucky I have a great squad \u2026 many very good players \u2026 changing the first XI, I hope we don\u2019t change the quality of the players, I am sure they are the same level \u2026 I would like to see the goals \u2026 the same attitude of the first 30 minutes against Everton \u2026 we have the qualities enough to score \u2026 it\u2019s a tough moment \u2026 no pressure, but we play to win the games \u2026 playing at Anfield against Liverpool<\/a> is always tough \u2026 but my focus is on my team \u2026 after one month of working together \u2026 keep our eyes on our goal \u2026 our organisation of the play and nothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Both teams make a slew of changes from their Premier League selections at the weekend. The only survivor from the XI that started Liverpool\u2019s 0-0 draw with Fulham is Ronald Araujo. He\u2019ll move from right back to form a central defensive pairing with Joe Gomez, who returns from his latest injury lay-off.<\/p>\n Spurs retain three members of their starting XI for the goalless draw against Everton. Rodrigo Bentancur, Omar Marmoush and captain Archie Gray go again. A couple of LFC old boys are on the bench: Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson, the latter having made 378 appearances for the Reds. Expect emotion if Robertson gets minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The teams<\/p>\n Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Araujo, Gomez, Kerkez, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, McConnell, Gakpo, Koumas. Tottenham Hotspur: Dubravka, Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Udogie, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Gallagher, Tel, Marmoush. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)<\/p>\n
Subs: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Szoboszlai, Isak, Munoz, Barcola, Gravenberch, Chambers.<\/p>\n
Subs: Kinsky, Robertson, van Hecke, Maddison, Savio, Fernandes, Solanke, Davies, van de Ven.<\/p>\n