Liverpool Youngsters Give Iraola Plenty to Consider After Tottenham Cup Win

Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup provided something that has occasionally been in short supply at Anfield recently, a genuine feel-good evening.

Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele reflected on a night when Liverpool’s younger players seized their opportunities, while several established names continued encouraging starts to the season.

“There hasn’t really been that much of that in the last six months or so,” Steele said of the positive atmosphere around Anfield. “It was nice. Yeah, it felt like they had a lot to shout about, a lot to cheer about.”

For Steele, Liverpool’s performance also reflected the particular nature of the Carabao Cup.

“I always think it’s interesting these Carabao Cup games because I feel like both teams sort of play with a little less pressure and it makes for quite open games,” he explained.

Tottenham Hotspur certainly contributed to that openness and created opportunities of their own, yet Steele’s assessment was straightforward, describing it as “a very good all round performance from Liverpool”.

Lewis Koumas Seizes Liverpool Opportunity

Lewis Koumas was central to the discussion after being named man of the match, with his energy immediately catching the eye.

Steele described Koumas as “just running his socks off”, adding that James McConnell was “doing the same from the number 10 position”.

That intensity appeared to give Liverpool greater cohesion.

“I thought the midfield in general for the first hour at least just looked a lot more together than it has done in any of the league games this season,” Steele said. “I thought just all over the pitch it was just much more energetic, much more intense from Liverpool.”

Koumas, in particular, appears to have altered Steele’s expectations following his loan spell with Hull City.

“I was sort of thinking his chances of making it at Liverpool were quite thin, to be honest,” he admitted.

Andoni Iraola’s arrival has seemingly provided Koumas with an opportunity to change that perception.

“Koumas has just really taken to that like a duck to water,” Steele said. “He’s a good member to have in your squad because he can fill in at a number of positions.”

Perhaps more significant was Steele’s assessment of the youngster’s attitude.

“He just seems like he wants to learn. He’s got the right attitude. He’s a local lad,” he said. “He plays like he wants to succeed for Liverpool.”

Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo Respond

Liverpool’s youngsters provided much of the energy against Tottenham Hotspur, while Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo supplied reminders of their quality.

Steele admitted he had previously wondered whether Mac Allister could rediscover his strongest form.

“I wouldn’t say I wrote him off, but I had doubts whether he could reach his best level again,” he said.

Those doubts are beginning to disappear.

“He’s had three or four games already this season that you think, that is him back to his best,” Steele added. “When he is at his best, he could be one of the best midfielders in the league.”

Gakpo also earned considerable praise after scoring against Tottenham.

“Koumas obviously got the man of the match, but I think Gakpo was a close contender as well,” Steele said.

The difference, in Steele’s view, has been confidence.

“He seems to be playing with confidence, which he wasn’t last season.”

Trey Nyoni Pushes for Premier League Chance

Tuesday’s Carabao Cup victory also intensified the discussion around Liverpool’s midfield and Trey Nyoni.

Steele believes the teenager is moving increasingly close to a Premier League opportunity.

“I’ve been saying for quite a while, I think Trey is really knocking on the door now for a Premier League start,” he told Davis.

“Every time he plays he looks assured and he wants to do the defensive side, which I’m not sure the other three do as much.”

Nyoni’s performance alongside Mac Allister clearly impressed Steele, particularly given Liverpool’s difficulties finding the correct midfield balance during the opening weeks of the campaign.

“Trey looks the part and I would be starting him soon if the issues carry on,” he said.

Later in the discussion, Steele went further: “I would like to see a Mac Allister and Nyoni double pivot in a league game though. I think that’s what I’d like to see.”

Carabao Cup Win Leaves Iraola with Decisions

Dominik Szoboszlai eventually supplied the spectacular moment that settled matters, scoring Liverpool’s third as Tottenham threatened to make the closing stages uncomfortable.

“I think we’ll do well to see a better goal than that this season from a Liverpool perspective,” Steele said. “It was brilliant.”

Liverpool’s reward is another difficult Carabao Cup assignment, with Chelsea visiting Anfield in the next round.

For now, however, the Tottenham Hotspur victory has given Iraola precisely what a manager wants from this competition, progression and genuine selection decisions.

As Steele put it: “There’s been a few players who have really stood out in this cup fixture that, you know, are pushing for more game time in the league.”

For Koumas, Nyoni and Liverpool’s other emerging players, that may prove considerably more important than simply reaching the next round.