Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-3 to Liverpool in the third round of the 2026-2027 EFL Cup at Anfield on September 16, 2026 (Korean time).
Why it matters: Tottenham's elimination from the EFL Cup adds to their struggles this season, remaining winless against top-flight teams and heightening pressure on manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Tottenham had previously defeated Championship side Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the EFL Cup second round.
The defeat extends Tottenham's winless streak against top-tier opponents to four matches this season.
Roberto De Zerbi's position is under scrutiny as Tottenham continues to falter early in the season.
Driving the news: Liverpool advanced to the EFL Cup fourth round thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a right-footed shot into the top corner after a well-worked team move.
Gakpo doubled Liverpool's lead in the 54th minute, firing a powerful shot into the far corner.
Szoboszlai sealed the victory with a stunning long-range volley in stoppage time.
State of play: Tottenham started the match with a 4-2-3-1 formation, led by Omar Marmoush up front, and goalkeeper Martín Dúbravka.
Tottenham created the first chance of the match, but Udogie's shot was saved by Liverpool's Giorgi Mamardashvili.
After trailing 0-1 at halftime, Tottenham conceded a second goal early in the second half, struggling to cope with Liverpool's attacking prowess.
Conor Gallagher pulled one back for Tottenham, heading home from a corner in the 69th minute, but their efforts were not enough.
The big picture: Liverpool's clinical finishing contrasted sharply with Tottenham's wastefulness, illustrating the gap between the two sides.
Tottenham registered 17 shots with an expected goals (xG) of 2.34, outperforming Liverpool's 12 shots and xG of 1.53.
Only Gallagher managed to score for Spurs, highlighting their inability to convert chances into goals.
With this defeat, Tottenham has now failed to win in their last 31 visits to Anfield, a streak that dates back 15 years.
What they're saying: Commentators noted the contrasting fortunes of both teams, with Liverpool showing resilience and Tottenham's struggles becoming increasingly apparent.
"Tottenham was wasteful with chances and paid the price," said a football analyst, emphasizing the missed opportunities that cost Spurs dearly.
"Liverpool's clinical finishing and solid defense were key to their victory," another commentator remarked, praising the Reds' performance.
By the numbers: The match statistics reveal a stark difference in efficiency between the two teams.
Liverpool scored three goals from an xG of just 0.22, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on limited chances.
Tottenham's failure to convert high-quality chances, including two clear opportunities from Kudus and Saviñú, proved decisive.
Gallagher's header marked Tottenham's only goal, leaving them with a disappointing return from a dominant performance in terms of shot volume.
What's next: Following this defeat, Tottenham will focus on improving their league form as they face upcoming Premier League fixtures.
De Zerbi will need to address the team's goal-scoring issues to regain confidence ahead of their next match.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will look to build on this victory as they progress to the EFL Cup fourth round, aiming for a strong showing in the tournament.