Liverpool piled more misery on troubled Tottenham Hotspur with a 3-1 victory in the League Cup third round on Tuesday, while teenage sensation Max Dowman stole the show as Arsenal thrashed Ipswich Town 4-2.
After a woeful start to the Premier League season, Tottenham’s hopes of a morale-boosting cup run ended in disappointing fashion at a rain-soaked Anfield.
Liverpool dominated the visitors, with Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai finding the net for the Reds.
Tottenham, managed by Roberto De Zerbi, are without a win — or even a goal — in their first four league matches, having lost twice and drawn twice. Their only victory this season came in the League Cup against second-tier Charlton Athletic.
The north London club endured successive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League, including narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of last season. They responded by spending more than £300 million ($404 million) on 10 new signings during the summer.
However, the expensive rebuild has yet to produce the desired results, raising fears that Tottenham could again find themselves battling near the foot of the table.
De Zerbi was handed another headache before the Liverpool game when unsettled striker Richarlison criticised his omission from the squad on social media.
Richarlison is reportedly keen to leave Tottenham, although proposed moves to Everton and Vasco da Gama have recently fallen through.
Tottenham host Aston Villa on Saturday, with De Zerbi under pressure to secure a result before the international break.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remain unbeaten at the start of the Andoni Iraola era, although they have won only once in four Premier League games.
Iraola made 10 changes to his starting line-up, but Liverpool still took control after 21 minutes.
Gakpo found Rio Ngumoha, who laid the ball off for Mac Allister to fire a first-time effort past Martin Dubravka and into the roof of the net.
Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 54th minute with a superb strike into the far corner.
Tottenham finally scored against top-flight opposition this season — albeit in a cup competition — when Conor Gallagher capitalised on poor marking to head home from a corner in the 69th minute.
But Szoboszlai put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, unleashing a stunning 25-yard strike to seal Liverpool’s victory.
Dowman makes his mark
At Portman Road, 16-year-old Max Dowman provided another glimpse of his considerable potential as Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season with a 4-2 win over Ipswich.
Arsenal, who lost last season’s League Cup final to Manchester City, have now won all six of their matches in all competitions this term.
Mikel Arteta made nine changes from the team that defeated Sunderland on Saturday, handing Dowman his first appearance of the campaign.
The teenager has been tipped for stardom since making his breakthrough as a 15-year-old last season. Arteta has nevertheless been careful with his development, gradually introducing him to first-team football.
Dowman wasted little time making his mark.
In the seventh minute, he showed impressive footwork to beat Cedric Kipre before calmly slotting the ball past Christian Walton.
The goal was his second for Arsenal, following his strike against Everton in March.
Noni Madueke doubled Arsenal’s advantage in the 16th minute, drilling a low shot past Walton from just inside the penalty area.
Dowman struck again two minutes after half-time, racing onto Martin Zubimendi’s pass before producing another composed finish.
Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s fourth in the 58th minute, curling home after being set up by Dowman.
Ipswich pulled one back through Anis Mehmeti in the 62nd minute, while Chuba Akpom scored in stoppage time, but the Championship side could not mount a serious comeback.
Elsewhere, Fulham made nine changes but still edged Championship leaders West Ham 3-2, with goals from Rodrigo Muniz, Cesar Palacios and Oscar Bobb, whose 78th-minute strike proved decisive.
Brentford also advanced with a 2-1 victory away to third-tier Reading, thanks to goals from Callum Wilson and Fabio Carvalho.
Manchester United host Brighton on Wednesday, while Aston Villa travel to Coventry City and Everton face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Holders Manchester City host Norwich City on Thursday.
AFP
