The Kopite View

Liverpool have been handed a mouth-watering Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Chelsea at Anfield.

And the more I think about it, the more I’m looking forward to this one.

There are so many interesting subplots surrounding the game, and for me there are five things in particular that stand out.

1. Xabi Alonso is coming back to Anfield

This has to be number one.

Seeing Xabi Alonso back at Anfield is going to be something special.

Of course, this time he won’t be returning as a Liverpool player or as the manager of an opposing European side.

He’ll be walking into Anfield as Chelsea manager.

That is going to be a strange feeling for Liverpool supporters.

Alonso remains such a hugely popular figure with the Reds, and I’m sure he’ll receive a fantastic reception before the competitive side of things takes over.

Once that whistle goes, though, he’ll be trying to knock Liverpool out of the competition.

That makes the whole thing even more intriguing.

2. Another chance to see the youngsters

This is another massive positive for me.

I loved seeing Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha given an opportunity against Tottenham.

Now they’ve got another potential opportunity to impress against Chelsea.

The question is whether Iraola sticks with a similar approach or brings more senior players into the team.

Personally, I’d still like to see some of these youngsters involved.

Chelsea will provide an even bigger test and that’s exactly what you want for players trying to establish themselves in the Liverpool first team.

3. Another cup night at Anfield under the lights

There’s just something about these games.

Anfield under the lights, a cup tie, a big Premier League opponent and a place in the next round at stake.

After the atmosphere around the Spurs game, I’m already looking forward to another night like that.

And with Alonso returning, I think the occasion could be even more special.

4. A place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs

Let’s not forget what is actually at stake.

This isn’t just another game.

Win it and Liverpool are in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

We’re getting to the business end of the competition.

I’ve said before that I think the cup competitions could become particularly important for Liverpool this season, and this is another opportunity to move one step closer to a potential Wembley trip.

Chelsea obviously won’t make it easy, but if you want to win a trophy, you have to beat good teams eventually.

5. Just how strong will Iraola go?

This might be the most interesting question of all.

Iraola made 10 changes against Tottenham and Liverpool still came through with a 3-1 victory.

But Chelsea are a different proposition.

Will he trust the youngsters again?

Will he put out a much stronger side?

Or will we get a mixture of experience and youth?

I suspect we’ll see something in between.

Iraola has already shown that he isn’t afraid to rotate, but he also clearly wants Liverpool to compete in this competition.

And with a place in the quarter-finals at stake and Chelsea standing in the way, it’ll be fascinating to see just how seriously he approaches it.

I can’t wait for this one

The Chelsea draw has given us another big cup night at Anfield to look forward to.

Xabi Alonso returning. The youngsters potentially getting another chance. Anfield under the lights. A place in the quarter-finals. And the big question of how strong Iraola will go.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Well, we certainly haven’t been handed an easy route through the Carabao Cup!

Liverpool have been drawn at home to Chelsea in the fourth round of the competition, meaning another Premier League side will arrive at Anfield with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

After beating Tottenham 3-1 with a heavily rotated side, Liverpool are now faced with another big test.

And I actually really like this draw.

Another big night at Anfield

Liverpool showed against Spurs that Andoni Iraola isn’t afraid to rotate his team.

He made 10 changes from the side that started against Fulham, giving opportunities to players such as Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha.

They took those opportunities.

Now Chelsea are coming to Anfield.

That means the likes of Nyoni, McConnell and Koumas could get another chance to show Iraola what they can do, although you’d expect the manager to have a difficult decision to make when it comes to how strong a team he wants to select.

The Carabao Cup could become important

I’ve already said that I think the cup competitions could be particularly important for Liverpool this season.

The Premier League is going to be incredibly demanding, especially with Champions League football thrown into the mix.

That doesn’t mean Liverpool should give up on the league.

Far from it.

But if Iraola can build momentum in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup while also trying to secure Champions League qualification, suddenly there are multiple opportunities for this squad to have a successful season.

And Chelsea will provide a very good indication of where Liverpool are.

I want to see the youngsters again

One of the biggest positives from the Tottenham game was seeing young players actually get the opportunity to play in a competitive Liverpool side.

Nyoni was excellent.

McConnell worked incredibly hard.

Koumas showed exactly why Iraola has kept him around the first-team squad.

Ngumoha also got another opportunity to experience a big night at Anfield.

Chelsea will obviously be a tougher test, but that’s exactly what these players need.

If they’re good enough, they’ll have to prove it against good opposition eventually.

Anfield should be bouncing

There’s something different about a cup night at Anfield.

And with Chelsea coming to town, I expect a really good atmosphere.

Liverpool have already shown that they are taking this competition seriously by beating Spurs, and now the reward is another home tie against one of the Premier League’s big clubs.

Chelsea at Anfield in the Carabao Cup? I’m absolutely looking forward to that one.

It’s not an easy draw.

But if Liverpool want to win this competition, these are the games they eventually have to win.

And after what I saw from Iraola’s young Reds against Tottenham, I’m certainly not going to write them off.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

It is still very early in Jeremy Jacquet’s Liverpool career.

But when you consider the circumstances surrounding his arrival, I think it is fair to ask a pretty exciting question:

Just how good is this lad?

Jacquet isn’t simply a young defender being given the odd appearance here and there.

Liverpool paid a lot of money to bring him to the club, so there is already a significant level of expectation surrounding his performances.

He has been trusted as a starter for Liverpool, and he has effectively stepped into the role vacated by Ibrahima Konaté.

That’s a serious responsibility, especially for a player who arrived with such a substantial price tag.

And so far, I really like what I’m seeing.

Replacing Konaté is no easy task

Konaté brought pace, physicality and the ability to defend large spaces into Liverpool’s back line.

So for Jacquet to come in and immediately be trusted with such an important role tells you plenty about how highly he is regarded.

There is always going to be pressure when you replace an established Liverpool defender, particularly when the club has invested heavily in your arrival.

But Jacquet doesn’t look like a player desperately trying to prove that he belongs.

He looks like someone who believes he belongs.

That’s what has caught my attention.

He looks comfortable

One of the things I like most about Jacquet is his composure.

He looks comfortable receiving the ball and isn’t afraid to get involved when Liverpool are building from the back.

Defensively, he’s also shown a willingness to compete and make the difficult decisions.

And remember, he’s doing all of this while still adapting to Liverpool, a new manager and a completely different level of expectation.

There are inevitably going to be mistakes along the way.

That’s football.

But when a club pays a lot of money for a young defender, supporters naturally want to see signs that the investment can pay off.

So far, the early signs are extremely encouraging.

Iraola clearly trusts him

The biggest compliment might actually be the trust Iraola is showing him.

A manager doesn’t simply hand a young centre-back a starting place at Liverpool because he’s talented.

You have to show in training that you’re ready.

You have to demonstrate that you can cope with the demands of the position.

And Jacquet has clearly done enough for Iraola to trust him, despite the pressure that comes with his transfer fee.

That’s exciting for Liverpool supporters.

We’ve already seen Trey Nyoni and James McConnell making their cases for more minutes, while Rio Ngumoha is another youngster pushing into the first-team picture.

Jacquet feels like another important part of that next generation, although his arrival also carries the added expectation that comes with a major financial investment.

Let’s not get carried away — yet

I’m not going to sit here and claim Jacquet is already the finished article.

He’s not.

He’s going to have difficult games. He’s going to make mistakes. There will be moments when his lack of experience becomes obvious.

That’s completely normal.

But there’s a difference between getting carried away and recognising genuine potential.

And I think Liverpool supporters can do the latter.

Jacquet is already starting for Liverpool, has been trusted to replace Konaté and arrived after the club paid a lot of money for him. That’s a pretty big statement in itself.

Now imagine how good he could become if he continues developing at this rate.

It really is early days.

But I’m beginning to get very excited about Jeremy Jacquet.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

This is one Liverpool contract situation I really don’t want to see dragging on.

According to Wilson Cox LFC, Liverpool are yet to enter new contract talks with Alexis Mac Allister, despite recent rumours suggesting discussions may already be underway.

The information Cox says he received months ago remains the same: Mac Allister’s father would like a release clause included in any new deal, and that is reportedly the issue holding Liverpool back.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are said to be extremely happy with Mac Allister’s start to the season and hope to enter talks soon if the demands become realistic.

And honestly, I can understand why Liverpool would be cautious.

But I also think this is something the club needs to get sorted.

Mac Allister is showing exactly why he’s so important

Just look at his start to this season.

Mac Allister has been one of the senior players Iraola can rely on when Liverpool need composure and quality in midfield.

We saw it again against Tottenham.

With Iraola making 10 changes, Mac Allister remained in the starting XI and produced the opening goal before also helping Liverpool regain control of the game.

That’s what experienced players are supposed to do.

And after the way he has started this campaign, I certainly don’t want to be reading stories about Europe’s biggest clubs monitoring his situation.

Because that’s exactly what makes the contract situation interesting.

The release clause is the sticking point

If the information from Wilson Cox LFC is accurate, the issue isn’t Liverpool suddenly deciding they don’t want Mac Allister.

Quite the opposite.

Liverpool are reportedly delighted with his performances and want to open talks.

The stumbling block is the reported desire for a release clause.

And from Liverpool’s perspective, you can understand the reluctance.

Why would the club willingly give one of their most important midfielders an easy escape route?

But from the player’s side, you can also understand why having some form of protection could be attractive.

That’s where negotiations come in.

Liverpool cannot afford to leave the door open

For me, this is one of those situations where Liverpool need to be proactive.

There is reportedly interest from top clubs and they are monitoring the situation closely.

That doesn’t mean Mac Allister is leaving.

It doesn’t mean he’s unhappy.

And it certainly doesn’t mean Liverpool should panic.

But it does mean the club needs to make sure they know exactly where they stand with one of their most important players.

We’ve seen enough times in football how quickly a contract situation can become a major talking point.

Liverpool have already got a midfield that is evolving under Iraola, with Trey Nyoni and James McConnell pushing through and players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch competing for important roles.

But Mac Allister’s experience and quality are incredibly valuable.

For me, Liverpool should be doing everything they reasonably can to keep him at Anfield for the long term.

If the reported demands aren’t realistic, then negotiate.

Find a solution.

Because the last thing Liverpool need is to allow uncertainty over Mac Allister’s future to become a bigger story than it needs to be.

Right now, he’s playing some excellent football.

Liverpool are happy with him.

The player is an important part of Iraola’s plans.

Now let’s get the contract situation sorted.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’ll be honest, I quite like the sound of Liverpool keeping tabs on Cher Ndour.

According to TEAMtalk, a number of Premier League clubs are once again monitoring the Fiorentina midfielder, with Liverpool among those maintaining a strong interest in the Italian international.

And while this is only reported interest at this stage, it is exactly the sort of transfer story that gets me thinking about where Liverpool could take their midfield next.

Ndour is only 22 and already has experience of football in several different countries, having come through Benfica before spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Braga and Besiktas. He joined Fiorentina permanently in 2025.

At 6ft 3in, he also brings something Liverpool don’t have in abundance in midfield — real physical presence.

I like what Liverpool are doing with the midfield

One thing I don’t want to see Liverpool do is simply buy players for the sake of it.

We’ve seen this season that there are young players within the club who deserve opportunities.

Trey Nyoni certainly made his case against Tottenham.

James McConnell has shown plenty of energy and maturity, while Lewis Koumas and others are also pushing their way into the conversation.

That’s exactly what you want to see.

But at the same time, Liverpool need to think beyond the next few months.

There are Premier League games, Champions League fixtures and domestic cups to navigate, and you cannot expect the same midfielders to play every minute of every competition.

That’s where someone like Ndour becomes interesting.

Could Ndour be the next piece of the puzzle?

I’m not going to pretend I’ve watched every minute of Cher Ndour’s career and suddenly know exactly where he fits into Iraola’s plans.

But the profile certainly makes sense to me.

He’s young, physically imposing and has already gained experience in different environments.

If Liverpool genuinely believe he has the potential to develop into a top-level Premier League midfielder, then I’d much rather see the club looking at that type of player early than waiting until the price has exploded.

And the fact Liverpool are reportedly competing with other Premier League clubs makes this one worth watching.

Liverpool shouldn’t be afraid to strengthen

The emergence of Nyoni shouldn’t mean Liverpool stop looking for midfielders.

If anything, it should mean the opposite.

Competition for places is healthy.

If Nyoni continues developing, brilliant. If McConnell keeps improving, even better. And if Liverpool can add another talented young midfielder like Ndour into that mix, suddenly Iraola has some serious options.

That’s how you build a squad.

For me, this is the interesting part of the Ndour story. I’m not saying Liverpool need to sign him tomorrow, but I absolutely like the idea of the club having him on their radar.

The Reds need to keep thinking ahead.

And if Cher Ndour is one of the players Liverpool believe could improve this midfield in the years ahead, I’d certainly be interested to see where this one goes.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

There’s something about seeing Liverpool’s name sitting in the hat that always gets the imagination going.

After beating Tottenham 3-1 at Anfield last night, Liverpool have booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup — and tonight we find out who stands between Andoni Iraola’s side and a place in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool will be ball number 8 in tonight’s fourth-round draw, which is expected to take place at around 10:15pm BST, following Manchester United’s clash with Brighton. (Paddy Power News)

And now comes the interesting part…

Who will Liverpool get?

There are no easy games once you reach this stage of the competition, but Liverpool supporters will certainly be looking at the teams still in the hat and wondering who they could be facing.

The Reds have already shown with last night’s victory that Iraola is willing to rotate his squad heavily while still taking the competition seriously.

That was one of the most encouraging aspects of the win over Spurs.

Players such as Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha were given opportunities, while the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo provided the experience and quality needed to get Liverpool through.

It worked.

Liverpool are now into the last 16.

Could this be Liverpool’s route to another trophy?

I certainly wouldn’t be complaining if Liverpool got a favourable draw tonight.

The Carabao Cup represents another opportunity for Iraola to challenge for silverware in his first season, while also giving minutes to players who might not be regular starters in the Premier League or Champions League.

And after seeing the youngsters step up against Tottenham, there is plenty of reason to be excited about what this competition could bring.

Liverpool are the most successful club in the history of the League Cup with 10 titles, so there is certainly some history to live up to.

Now we just need to find out who ball number 8 gets drawn against.

10:15pm tonight.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Arsenal keeping tabs on Rio Ngumoha is exactly the sort of transfer story Liverpool supporters don’t want to be reading.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal are monitoring the 18-year-old winger’s situation, while Liverpool are keen to keep him at Anfield and are in talks over a long-term contract extension.

And from a Liverpool point of view, that new contract needs to be a priority.

Because if Arsenal are watching, you can be certain it isn’t because they don’t rate what they’re seeing.

Ngumoha is already showing what he can do

The most important thing for me is that Ngumoha isn’t simply a highly-rated Academy player anymore.

He’s getting genuine first-team opportunities.

We’ve already seen enough of him to understand why clubs such as Arsenal would be interested.

There is pace, directness, confidence and a willingness to take defenders on. He doesn’t look frightened when he receives the ball and, perhaps most importantly, he plays with the sort of personality you want from a young winger.

That makes him an exciting prospect for Liverpool.

And it also makes him someone other clubs are inevitably going to watch.

Liverpool cannot afford to lose another young star

This is where the club has to be extremely careful.

Liverpool have invested heavily in developing Ngumoha and have given him a pathway into the first team.

Now that he’s starting to show what he can do, the priority has to be making sure that pathway continues at Anfield.

There is no suggestion that Ngumoha wants to leave Liverpool, and that’s an important distinction.

The current reporting is that Liverpool want to renew his contract, rather than that the player is actively pushing for an exit.

So Liverpool supporters shouldn’t panic.

But they should certainly pay attention.

Iraola can play a huge part

One of the biggest factors could be Andoni Iraola.

Young players want to see a pathway to first-team football.

It’s one thing for Liverpool to tell Ngumoha that he is part of their long-term plans. It’s another thing for the manager to demonstrate that by actually giving him opportunities.

And Iraola has already shown a willingness to do exactly that.

Ngumoha started against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and was one of several young players who impressed as Liverpool won 3-1.

That can only help.

If Ngumoha continues to get opportunities, continues developing and feels that he has a genuine chance of becoming an important Liverpool player, then there is every reason to believe he can see his future at Anfield.

Arsenal interest should be a warning, not a crisis

I’m not worried about Arsenal being interested in Ngumoha.

I’m worried about Liverpool giving them a reason to believe they have a chance.

There is a huge difference.

The latest reports indicate Liverpool want to extend his contract, and that is exactly what supporters should want to see.

Get the deal done.

Show Ngumoha that Liverpool believe in him.

Give him minutes.

Let him develop without putting ridiculous expectations on his shoulders.

And make it very clear that if he fulfils his potential, he can become an important player at Anfield.

Because I certainly don’t want to see Rio Ngumoha developing into a top Premier League winger somewhere else.

Liverpool have got an exciting young talent on their hands. Arsenal are watching. Now Liverpool need to make sure they have absolutely no reason to look anywhere else.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s reported interest in Alejandro Balde for January is certainly worth keeping an eye on — and after watching the Reds struggle for consistency at left-back, it is not difficult to understand why Andoni Iraola could be tempted.

According to reports, Liverpool are monitoring the Barcelona defender ahead of the January transfer window, with Spanish outlet Sport claiming that Balde would be an interesting option for the Reds if favourable terms can be reached.

The 22-year-old has surprisingly found himself out of favour at Barcelona and has not played a single minute in La Liga or the Champions League this season.

That has opened the door to speculation about a move.

And Liverpool could be one of the clubs ready to take advantage.

Balde’s situation is certainly interesting

Balde is hardly an unknown quantity.

He has already established himself at Barcelona and has the athleticism, pace and attacking qualities you would expect from a modern full-back.

The problem is that his current situation at Barcelona means Liverpool would have to look beyond simply asking why he isn’t playing.

There is always a reason when a player who was previously an important part of a huge club suddenly drops down the pecking order.

But that does not necessarily mean the player has lost his quality.

Liverpool have already seen something similar with Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguayan defender arrived from Barcelona after falling down the pecking order, yet he has quickly shown why Liverpool were willing to take a chance on him.

Araujo’s impressive start could potentially make Liverpool even more comfortable dealing with Barcelona again.

And this is where Balde becomes particularly interesting

Liverpool don’t necessarily need another left-back simply for the sake of adding another body.

What they need is competition.

Milos Kerkez arrived with a big reputation and there have been flashes of the player Liverpool thought they were signing, but his start to life at Anfield has not been completely convincing.

Kostas Tsimikas provides experience and knows the club inside out, but Liverpool will still want to know whether he can genuinely push for a regular starting place.

Balde would change that dynamic.

He would arrive with something to prove.

He would have the opportunity to resurrect his career at one of Europe’s biggest clubs while Liverpool would be getting a player desperate to show Barcelona exactly what they are missing.

That could be a very useful combination.

Iraola could be the key

There is another reason why this particular rumour makes sense.

Iraola knows exactly what he wants from his full-backs.

They have to contribute going forward, provide width, support attacks and still be capable of recovering quickly when possession is lost.

Balde’s pace would certainly suit that approach.

He is also young enough to develop further rather than being viewed as simply a short-term solution.

And that is important.

Liverpool have already spent huge money rebuilding the squad, but the club cannot keep throwing enormous fees at every problem.

A player like Balde — if the reported valuation is anywhere near the figures being mentioned — could represent a very different type of opportunity.

Liverpool shouldn’t rush into it

There is, however, an obvious warning.

Liverpool should not sign Balde simply because he is available.

If he has genuinely fallen behind other options at Barcelona, the club needs to establish exactly why.

They would also need to make sure his lack of football has not affected his fitness, confidence or match sharpness.

January transfers can be difficult enough without bringing in a player who has barely played for several months.

But if Liverpool’s recruitment team are satisfied that Balde can rediscover his best form, this could become a very interesting opportunity.

It could be exactly what Liverpool need

Liverpool don’t need to panic after a difficult start to the Premier League campaign.

But they do need to identify where the squad can improve.

And left-back is beginning to look like one of those areas.

A January move for Balde would give Iraola another athletic, attack-minded option and create genuine competition for the position.

More importantly, it would give Liverpool another young player with something to prove.

The Reds have already seen what can happen when a Barcelona player arrives at Anfield with a point to prove.

If Balde can follow the same path as Araujo, Liverpool may have another very interesting opportunity on their hands.

For now, it is only a reported interest.

But with Balde struggling for minutes at Barcelona and Liverpool seemingly monitoring his situation, this is one January transfer story I would be keeping a very close eye on.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

There was plenty to like about Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Tottenham, but Trey Nyoni’s performance was one of the biggest positives for me.

The 19-year-old was given his opportunity from the start as Andoni Iraola made wholesale changes for the Carabao Cup, and he didn’t simply look like a youngster being given a chance.

He looked like a player who belongs in the first-team conversation.

And now I think Iraola has to find a way to give him more minutes.

The numbers tell their own story

Nyoni’s statistics against Spurs were hugely encouraging.

He won more tackles than any other Liverpool player, with three, while also making six recoveries.

He won four of his five duels, showing that he wasn’t afraid to compete physically against a Tottenham side that had plenty of possession.

Then there was his use of the ball.

Nyoni completed 37 of his 39 passes, giving him a remarkable 95% pass-completion rate.

That combination is what caught my eye.

He wasn’t simply running around trying to make an impression. He was winning the ball, recovering possession, competing in duels and then generally using the ball sensibly when Liverpool had it.

That is exactly what you want from a midfielder.

His tackle helped create Gakpo’s goal

One of the most important moments of Nyoni’s performance came before Liverpool’s second goal.

He won the ball with an excellent tackle, helping Liverpool regain possession before the move eventually ended with Cody Gakpo finding the net.

Those are the little contributions that can sometimes be missed when people look only at goals and assists.

Nyoni’s job was to help Liverpool win the midfield battle and keep the team moving forward.

He did that extremely well.

Age shouldn’t be the reason he doesn’t play

Of course, Nyoni is still young.

There is absolutely no need to put huge expectations on his shoulders or suddenly make him responsible for fixing every problem Liverpool have in midfield.

But being young shouldn’t automatically mean being kept out of the team either.

If a player is good enough, he should get opportunities.

And Nyoni is giving Iraola plenty of evidence that he deserves them.

Liverpool have had spells this season where the midfield hasn’t quite looked right. There have been questions about intensity, ball recovery and winning duels, and Nyoni showed against Tottenham that he can contribute in all three areas.

That doesn’t mean he has to start every Premier League match.

It simply means he should be getting more than occasional minutes.

Liverpool need to develop what they have

One of the most encouraging aspects of this season is seeing Iraola willing to trust the younger players.

Nyoni, Lewis Koumas, Rio Ngumoha and James McConnell all showed energy against Tottenham, and Iraola has already praised the attitude and intensity of his young players.

For Nyoni in particular, this needs to be the beginning rather than the end of his opportunity.

Give him 20 or 30 minutes when the circumstances are right.

Give him starts in cup competitions.

Give him chances to prove that he can handle Premier League football.

And if he continues producing performances like the one against Spurs, eventually it becomes impossible to ignore him.

Iraola has a decision to make

Liverpool don’t need to rush Trey Nyoni.

But they shouldn’t hold him back simply because of his age.

Three tackles, six recoveries, four successful duels from five and 37 successful passes from 39 is an impressive night’s work for any midfielder, never mind one still developing at first-team level.

The biggest compliment I can give him is that I didn’t come away from the game thinking, “That’s a promising youngster.”

I came away thinking:

“Liverpool need to see more of this.”

Nyoni has given Iraola something to think about.

Now he needs to be given the minutes to show whether he can turn that promise into a regular first-team contribution.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup was about much more than simply booking a place in the fourth round.

Andoni Iraola made 10 changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Fulham, but the players coming into the team showed exactly why having a strong squad is so important.

There was energy, aggression and plenty of quality from Liverpool, while several players gave Iraola plenty to think about ahead of the next round of fixtures.

Here are my five biggest talking points from the victory.

1. Liverpool’s youngsters took their opportunity

This was exactly the sort of night the Carabao Cup should provide for Liverpool’s younger players.

James McConnell, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha were all given the opportunity to impress, and they certainly didn’t look out of place.

McConnell and Koumas brought tremendous energy to Liverpool’s pressing game, while Ngumoha was involved in the build-up to the opening goal.

The biggest positive was the attitude.

The youngsters were willing to run, close down and compete for every ball, and that intensity gave Tottenham problems throughout the first half.

Liverpool noticeably lost some of that energy when the younger players began to leave the pitch.

For Iraola, that has to be encouraging.

2. Trey Nyoni is making it very difficult to leave him out

If there was one player who particularly strengthened his case, it was Trey Nyoni.

Liverpool have looked short of something in midfield during the early part of the season, and Nyoni showed that he can provide something different.

His tackle to win possession before Cody Gakpo’s goal was an excellent example of the aggression and awareness he can bring to the position.

He also finished the game with a 95% pass-completion rate, showing that his contribution wasn’t simply about winning the ball.

There is still plenty for Nyoni to learn, and nobody should be putting unrealistic expectations on an 18-year-old.

But based on what we saw against Spurs, I think Iraola now has a very strong reason to give him more opportunities.

He certainly looks ready for them.

3. Cody Gakpo just keeps delivering

What more can you say about Cody Gakpo?

He scored again against Tottenham and continued what has been an excellent start to the season.

Gakpo has looked much closer to the player Liverpool thought they were signing from PSV, and his confidence appears to be growing with every game.

His contribution went beyond the goal, too.

He played his part in the build-up to Mac Allister’s opener and then produced another trademark finish when cutting inside from the left.

It is remarkable to think there were reports towards the end of the transfer window suggesting Liverpool could potentially have been open to selling him.

I’m certainly glad they didn’t.

Gakpo has arguably been one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers so far this season, and Iraola is getting plenty out of him.

4. Andy Robertson received the reception he deserved

There was always going to be an emotional moment when Andy Robertson returned to Anfield.

And that’s exactly what happened.

When Robertson came on for Tottenham, the Liverpool supporters gave their former left-back a tremendous reception.

His name rang around Anfield, and it was a fitting tribute to everything he achieved during his Liverpool career.

There was never really any doubt about the reception he would receive.

Robertson gave Liverpool supporters some fantastic memories, and seeing him back at Anfield in different colours was inevitably going to be a strange experience.

Whatever shirt he is wearing, he will always have a special connection with Liverpool supporters.

5. Now Iraola needs to build on this against Bournemouth

The Carabao Cup victory was important, but the attention now turns back to the Premier League.

And Liverpool’s trip to Bournemouth suddenly becomes a very interesting test for Iraola.

The Reds have won only one of their opening Premier League games, and although there have been some encouraging performances, they need to start turning those performances into points.

The Tottenham victory gives Iraola another positive to take into the weekend.

He has seen his young players step up, Gakpo continue his excellent form and Nyoni show that he deserves serious consideration for more first-team football.

There is still plenty to improve, but this was a night when Liverpool looked hungry.

And that is exactly what Iraola will want to see more of.

The result gets Liverpool into the next round, but perhaps more importantly, several players have given their manager something to think about.

Jamie (The Kopite View)