How Every Liverpool Player Fared As Iraola’s Changed XI Beat Tottenham

Andoni Iraola shuffled his pack for the visit of Tottenham in the Carabao Cup fourth round, and by full time it was clear the gamble had paid off. A youthful looking Liverpool side, stitched together with academy graduates and squad players, brushed Spurs aside 3-1 at Anfield to book their place in the next round.

Cody Gakpo took most of the headlines with a goal and two assists, but this was a team performance built on energy from the fringe players Iraola trusted with a rare start. Cup ties like this often tell a head coach more about his squad than any training session can, and this one will have told Iraola plenty about the group he can call upon once the fixture list gets congested. Here is how we rated every Red who took part.

Between the sticks and across the back four

Below is our full breakdown, player by player, of a night that offered plenty of encouragement for the head coach.

• Giorgi Mamardashvili (8/10): Produced two smart stops either side of half time and an outstanding one handed save to keep Spurs at arm’s length, though his positioning for the visitors’ goal will have frustrated him.
• Ronald Araújo (8/10): Composed all evening, using his strength to see off Tottenham’s early spells of pressure and staying assured on the ball.
• Milos Kerkez (6/10): Busy going forward but needed sharper concentration defensively after the break.
• Joe Gomez (7/10): Marshalled the back line calmly and started the move that led to the opener before making way at the interval.
• Jeremie Frimpong (6/10): Willing to support the attack throughout, then focused on tightening his own flank in the second period.
• Alexis Mac Allister (8/10): Arrived at the back post to finish superbly for the opener, then teed up Gakpo for the second with a clever pass.
• Trey Nyoni (7/10): Impressively composed in a deeper role, growing into the game the longer it went on.
• James McConnell (6/10): Diligent in breaking up Tottenham attacks and offered good support to those around him.
• Lewis Koumas (7/10): A real focal point up front, bringing physicality that troubled the Spurs backline before he was replaced late on.
• Rio Ngumoha (6/10): Involved in the buildup to the opener but found it harder to make an impact once Spurs adjusted their left side.
• Cody Gakpo (8/10): Involved in all three goals and thoroughly deserved his Man of the Match award, carrying the ball with real purpose from a wide role.

Impact from the bench

Iraola’s changes did little to disrupt the rhythm of the performance, and a couple of substitutes left a real mark on the contest.

• Jérémy Jacquet (8/10): Assured after coming on at the break, offering composure at the back.
• Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10): Should have scored before eventually getting his goal with a thumping finish to settle the tie.
• Ryan Gravenberch (5/10): Added fresh legs in midfield without ever really imposing himself.
• Bradley Barcola (6/10): Brought energy and a threat in behind whenever Liverpool broke forward.
• Alexander Isak (7/10): A late introduction, but his movement gave Liverpool a sharper edge in the closing stages.

The manager

Andoni Iraola (8/10): Trusted his fringe players and youngsters ahead of a struggling group of senior professionals, and the response on the pitch backed up every one of his selection calls. The only slight concern was a loss of control in midfield once the second round of changes arrived, but that will barely register against a job well done.

Squad depth is going to matter enormously across a long season, and performances like this from Liverpool’s fringe players suggest Iraola has more strength in numbers than some feared heading into the campaign. If nights like this keep coming, rotation will start to look less like a gamble and more like a genuine strength for this Liverpool side.