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THURSDAY | SEPT 17, 2026

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Sorry Spurs Liverpool march on while Tottenham’s’ miserable start takes another blow in Carabao Cup defeat

R OBERTO DE ZERBI apolo gised for Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup exit after his side suffered a dismal 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at rain-lashed Anfield yester day, extending their miserable start to the season. Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai scored for Liverpool, while Conor Gallagher’s reply was Tottenham’s first goal against a top-flight opponent this season. Tottenham, who are fourth-bottom in the Premier League, remain without a win in their opening four League matches, having lost twice and drawn twice. De Zerbi admitted his side were going through a “tough moment” but insisted they had also been unfortunate in their opening matches. “We have to shoot more times, we have to shoot better, but we are sorry for the result, disappointed, frustrated for the result,” he said. “I think, unfair, but we have to accept and to be stronger than this unlucky moment. 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.” Tottenham’s only victory this sea son came against second-tier Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup, making yesterday’s defeat particularly damaging for a side that had hoped to use the competi tion to build confi dence. De Zerbi made eight changes from the team that drew with Everton l a s t week end, but

phases in the game but overall I liked the energy. We scored but I am happy because we are in the next round. “I think at 2-0, they have to take a risk and win some territory. We were defending well but conceding a lot of set-pieces and when they scored that put us under some pressure. Luckily for us we found a way to score a third and finish the game properly.” Iraola told ITV Sport that Liverpool had shown the intensity he wanted to see from his team. “I felt the team during good phases today, it felt like energy and everyone pushing. It was close to the version we want,” he said. Mac Allister, who has scored twice in his last three games, said the result would provide a confidence boost but warned Liverpool could not afford to read too much into one victory. “We played against a very good team who know what to do on the ball,” he said. “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.” The Argentina international also praised Liverpool’s younger players after their contribution to the victory. “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

qualities of the players are incredible.” De Zerbi also accepted responsibil ity for Tottenham’s poor start and chal lenged his players to respond when they host Aston Villa on Saturday. “I’m sorry, and it’s my responsibil ity. Because maybe in the middle of the first half we didn’t recognise the clear situation man-to-man,” he said. “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.” Liverpool, meanwhile, took encour agement from a performance that coach Andoni Iraola felt represented a significant step forward after their recent struggles. “I am pleased with the perform ance,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live . “I think there have been different

the gamble backfired as Tottenham were comfortably beaten by a Liverpool side that itself was not at full strength. The Italian, whose appointment late last season helped Tottenham avoid relegation, nevertheless remains con vinced the club are moving in the right direction after spending more than £300 million (RM1.26b) on 10 new players since the end of last season. “We have to understand if we are in the right way or not,” he said. “I think watching the game, the last three games, four games, maybe until minute 60 with Newcastle, I think we are in the right way. “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

angry but I think that is me wanting them to succeed. They are going to be really, really important for us during this season.” – A F P / T h e Independent

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Roberto de Zerbi, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Marcos Senesi react after Tottenham’s defeat to Liverpool in the 2026 Carabao Cup 3rd round at Anfield yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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