Liverpool added to beleaguered Tottenham’s woes with a 3-1 League Cup third round triumph while teenage prodigy Max Dowman was the man for Arsenal in their 4-2 thumping of Ipswich yesterday.
Tottenham’s chances of a morale-boosting cup run ended in dispiriting fashion at rain-lashed Anfield after a poor start to the Premier League season, AFP writes.
Liverpool batted them aside with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai for the Reds.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who sit fourth from bottom, have failed to score a goal or win any of their opening four league games, drawing twice and losing twice.
Tottenham’s single win this season has been in the League Cup against second-tier Charlton.
The north London club have added more than $404 million (300 million pounds) worth of 10 new recruits after back-to-back 17th place finishes, including last season’s relegation battle, on the final day of the campaign.
However, the payoff from that eye-watering expenditure has not been instant and worries of another relegation struggle have been ignited.
Richarlison, unsettled, resorted to social media to complain about De Zerbi’s decision to leave him out of the team to face Liverpool, adding to the Italian’s problems.
Richarlison has made it clear he wants to leave but Everton and Vasco Da Gama transfers have fallen through recently.
De Zerbi sorely needs to win to ease the pressure on him going into the international break, with Tottenham hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.
Liverpool are still unblemished since the Andoni Iraola era began, but have only managed one victory in four league games.
Iraola made 10 changes but Liverpool took the lead after 21 minutes from a fluid play.
Gakpo fed Rio Ngumoha and he laid it on a plate for Mac Allister to smash a first-time finish into the roof of the net past Martin Dubravka.
Gakpo extended Liverpool’s lead in the 54th minute, curling a beautiful effort into the far corner.
Tottenham had finally scored against top-flight opposition this season, although in a different tournament, as Conor Gallagher made the most of slack marking to score from a corner in the 69th minute.
Szoboszlai put salt into the wounds with a missile from 25 yards in stoppage-time.
Dowman leaves his imprint
It was Dowman’s turn to take center stage at Portman Road to recall the blossoming potential of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal, who suffered defeat to Manchester City in last season’s League Cup final, have won all six games in all competitions so far this season.
Mikel Arteta made nine changes from the team that triumphed at Sunderland on Saturday, with 16-year-old Dowman making his first game of the season.
Dowman has been tipped as a potential star since he broke into the scene last season as a 15-year-old.
Arteta, though, is taking baby steps with the midfielder as he eases him back into action while his Premier League champions are soaring high.
In the seventh minute, Dowman showed Arteta what he can bring to the party, showcasing quick feet to skip past Cedric Kipre before slotting home with a clinical finish.
It was Dowman’s second goal for Arsenal after he scored against Everton in March.
Arsenal doubled their advantage in the 16th minute when Noni Madueke sent a low shot past Christian Walton from just inside the penalty area.
Martin Zubimendi picked out a pass for Dowman to run onto and he finished with aplomb for his second after 47 minutes.
Dowman’s pass was curled in by Mikel Merino for Arsenal’s fourth in the 58th minute.
Ipswich were outclassed but Chuba Akpom’s stoppage-time strike and Anis Mehmeti’s 62nd-minute reply were little consolation.
West Ham 2-3 Fulham Fulham made nine changes but still triumphed 3-2 against Championship leaders West Ham with goals from Rodrigo Muniz, Cesar Palacios and Oscar Bobb, who bagged the 78th minute winner.
Brentford beat third-tier Reading 2-1 with goals from Callum Wilson and Fabio Carvalho.
Today Manchester United are at home to Brighton, Aston Villa are away at Coventry and Everton play Wolves.
Holders Manchester City host Norwich tomorrow.
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