# Liverpool deepen Tottenham’s early-season crisis

> Liverpool’s 3-1 League Cup win at Anfield left Tottenham with mounting pressure and Arsenal’s Max Dowman stole the night elsewhere.
- Title: Liverpool deepen Tottenham’s early-season crisis · Malay Mail
- Summary: Liverpool’s 3-1 League Cup win at Anfield left Tottenham with mounting pressure and Arsenal’s Max Dowman stole the night elsewhere. Tottenham’s big spending…
- Keywords: liverpool, tottenham, league cup, anfield, alexis mac allister, cody gakpo, dominik szoboszlai, roberto de zerbi, richarlison, arsenal, max dowman, ipswich
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/09/16/liverpool-pile-more-misery-on-tottenham-with-league-cup-win/235340
- Published: 2026-09-16T08:45:29+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: liverpool, tottenham, league cup, anfield, alexis mac allister, cody gakpo, dominik szoboszlai, roberto de zerbi, richarlison, arsenal, max dowman, ipswich
## Spurs sink again
Liverpool beat Tottenham 3-1 in the League Cup third round, ending Spurs’ hopes of a quick mood shift after a bleak Premier League start.

> Tottenham’s hopes of a morale-boosting cup run came to a dispiriting end
## Liverpool strike first
Andoni Iraola made 10 changes, but Liverpool still clicked. Cody Gakpo found Rio Ngumoha, who set up Alexis Mac Allister for a fierce 21st-minute opener.
## Gakpo adds control
Gakpo doubled the lead in the 54th minute with a sharp finish into the far corner, leaving Tottenham chasing another match from a weak position.

> Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 54th minute
## Gallagher breaks drought
Conor Gallagher scored from a corner in the 69th minute, Tottenham’s first goal against top-flight opposition this season, though it came in the cup.
## Szoboszlai finishes it
Dominik Szoboszlai ended any late Spurs push in stoppage time, smashing in a 25-yard shot to seal Liverpool’s unbeaten start under Iraola.

> a 25-yard rocket
## Pressure grips De Zerbi
Tottenham sit fourth-bottom, winless and goalless in four league games. Their only victory so far came against second-tier Charlton in this competition.
## Spending brings anxiety
After two 17th-place finishes, Spurs spent more than £300 million on 10 signings. The slow return has raised fears of another relegation fight.

> over £300 million (US$404 million)
## Richarlison unrest grows
Richarlison posted his frustration after being left out at Anfield. Moves to Everton and Vasco Da Gama have already fallen through.
## Dowman steals spotlight
At Ipswich, 16-year-old Max Dowman scored twice as Arsenal won 4-2. Mikel Merino also scored from Dowman’s pass, underlining his fast rise.

> Dowman took centre stage
## Key takeaway

Tottenham’s big spending has not fixed their slide, while Liverpool and Arsenal used the League Cup to build momentum.