Trey Nyoni’s Big Night Answers Iraola’s Midfield Question
After a flat afternoon against Fulham, Andoni Iraola needed his fringe players to stand up and be counted, and on this evidence, several of them did exactly that. Liverpool beat Tottenham 3-1 at Anfield in the EFL Cup fourth round, and while Spurs had more of the ball and more shots on goal, the story of the night was written by the players usually watching from the bench.
Nyoni gives Iraola an answer at the base of midfield
The question that has followed Liverpool for weeks is whether this squad has a genuine holding midfielder, and Trey Nyoni spent 62 minutes making a decent case for himself. Operating in front of the back four, the teenager was calm on the ball, won his individual battles and picked out a couple of raking long passes that showed real composure for someone his age. It was not a flashy display, but it was exactly the kind of disciplined, unfussy performance that a deeper midfielder needs to produce.
TREY NYONI (19, CM) VS TOTTENHAM: 62 minutes played, 6 ball recoveries, 3/4 ground duels won, 100% aerial duels won, 3 tackles, 100% successful long balls (2/2), 95% pass accuracy. Underrated gem.
— Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) September 15, 2026
Nyoni was withdrawn for Ryan Gravenberch once the legs had gone, and by his own manager’s admission afterwards he had nothing left to give. That is precisely the kind of shift Iraola will want to see repeated if he is going to trust a young player in that role when it matters more than a cup tie in September.
Gakpo and Mac Allister give Liverpool the platform
Liverpool’s opener came from Alexis Mac Allister, who arrived late into the box to finish confidently after 21 minutes and settle any early nerves following a bright start from the visitors. Cody Gakpo then doubled the lead just after the hour, cutting in from the left and curling a fine finish beyond the goalkeeper with Mac Allister supplying the pass. Gakpo looked completely at home in the freer, more advanced role Iraola gave him, and on this kind of form he is making his own case for a regular starting berth regardless of who else is available.
Szoboszlai’s late strike settles a nervy finish
Tottenham were not finished, and Conor Gallagher pulled a goal back with just over twenty minutes remaining to set up a tense final stretch. Liverpool held on, helped by another excellent night’s work from Giorgi Mamardashvili, who produced a string of saves to keep Spurs at arm’s length. It was Dominik Szoboszlai, introduced just after the hour mark, who put the tie beyond doubt in stoppage time with a thumping finish after more good work from Gakpo.
That goal was Steven Gerrard esque from Dominik Szoboszlai tonight.
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) September 15, 2026
The bigger picture for Iraola
There were reminders that this squad is still a work in progress. Tottenham had 56 per cent of the possession and forced 17 shots to Liverpool’s 12, and there will be nights against sterner opposition where that kind of gap gets punished. But the point of an evening like this was never a perfect performance, it was finding out who is ready to be trusted. Nyoni looked the part in a position of genuine need, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas both worked tirelessly, and Rio Ngumoha continues to look like a special talent in the making. Iraola came looking for answers and found several. That is a good problem to have heading into a busy run of fixtures.