Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Anfield to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, while Arsenal thrashed Ipswich Town 4-2 at Portman Road on a night that produced five third-round ties across English football.
Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai scored for Liverpool, with Gallagher pulling a goal back for Tottenham. At Portman Road, teenager Max Dowman scored twice for Arsenal either side of goals from Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino, with Mehmeti replying for Ipswich.
Liverpool ease past out-of-form Tottenham
Andoni Iraola made ten changes to his Liverpool side from the win over Fulham, handing a start to teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, and his team still had enough to see off Tottenham. Mac Allister put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute before Gakpo doubled the lead in the 54th. Gallagher reduced the deficit in the 69th minute, but Szoboszlai settled the tie with a goal in the first minute of stoppage time.
Speaking to ITV afterwards, Iraola said: "I think the game was quite different phases. We were pushing a lot and then went ahead but once we were ahead they were close to our zones, especially set pieces we were suffering. I think we've been good. I felt the team during good phases today, it felt like energy and everyone pushing. It was close to the version we want."
De Zerbi frustrated by 'unlucky' run
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said his side deserved more than the defeat. "We have to shoot more times, we have to shoot better, we have to finish better the clear situations, but we are sorry for the result, disappointed, frustrated for the result. I think, unfair, but we have to accept and to be stronger than this unlucky moment, because I'm honest, I'm honest with myself and I'm honest with you, I think in these five, six games, we have been for sure not lucky with Newcastle, with Everton, even with Nottingham and tonight as well," he said.
De Zerbi added: "I believe in my players, I have a big confidence, a big opinion of my players, and when we arrive to find the click, to win a game, I think we enjoy with these players, because the qualities of the players are incredible. Have a look at Marmoush, Savio, Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Mateus Fernandes, Robertson, don't forget Pedro Porro. Solanke, Solanke top, he's a good player. It's a tough moment, but we have to be stronger to prepare our best for the next game with Villa and to find this click."
Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp, working for Sky Sports, said Spurs had shown promise despite the loss. "From Tottenham's point of view, there were positives. They had a sharpness to their game. Bergvall did well. There's lots to look forward to for the weekend. It was a better performance. On another day, they could have had two or three goals. Liverpool just had enough," he said.
Dowman double sinks Ipswich
At Portman Road, Arsenal, who started Viktor Gyokeres, raced into a 4-0 lead against an Ipswich side featuring Flemming from the start. Dowman opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Madueke made it 2-0 at the break. Dowman struck again in the 47th minute and Merino added a fourth in the 58th before Mehmeti pulled one back for Ipswich in the 62nd minute, with the match finishing 4-2 to Arsenal.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, praised the 16-year-old Dowman. "He is 16, we don't really see that in the Premier League. In this environment, we want to develop him and we need to look after him. Unbelievable, he's unpredictable, he can go either way, so fluid, so nice to watch," Arteta said.
Mac Allister 'feeling the love'
Liverpool midfielder Mac Allister told ITV Sport he was pleased with his goal and the club's academy graduates. "We played against a very good team who know what to do on the ball. I like getting in the box and scoring, really important to score for our confidence and to win but we need to understand this is one game. I am feeling really good and I am feeling the love of the fans which is really important for me," he said.
"The young players show every day in training they want to be here. They deserved this. I focus quite a lot on them and sometimes get angry but I think that is me wanting them to succeed. They are going to be really, really important for us during this season," Mac Allister added.
Carabao Cup third round results and what's next
Five third-round ties were played, with Peterborough United beating Barnsley 3-3 on penalties (7-6), West Ham United losing 2-3 to Fulham, Ipswich losing 2-4 to Arsenal, Liverpool beating Tottenham 3-1, and Reading losing 1-2 to Brentford.
Four more third-round ties are scheduled for the following day: Fleetwood Town against Sheffield United, Everton against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United against Brighton, and Coventry City against Aston Villa. Manchester City play Norwich City on Thursday to complete the round, with the draw for the next round taking place the following night.
Liverpool travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth this weekend in their last match before the international break, a return for Iraola to the club he previously managed. Tottenham host Aston Villa, Arsenal travel to Brighton, and Ipswich visit Everton.
