After a bumpy 2025-26 season, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo are showing their value to Liverpool, with the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham the latest example.

Midway through the first half of Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Anfield launched into a forgotten refrain for Alexis Mac Allister. After a summer of speculation, the 27-year-old scored and assisted to book passage to the fourth round. His mini-renaissance could not have been more timely.

With Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch dropped, Mac Allister led an untested midfield of Trey Nyoni and James Mc Connell. He then assisted Cody Gakpo, who bent a glorious strike past Martin Dúbravka. Like Mac Allister, Gakpo was maligned last season but seems revitalized under Andoni Iraola.

Substitute Dominik Szoboszlai's 30-yard strike sealed the win. "The third goal is a worldie," Iraola said. It was not quite perfect, as Liverpool allowed Tottenham to score.