Liverpool press conference: Andoni Iraola before EFL Cup game with Tottenham Hotspur

Iraola learning which players are 'robust' amid busy schedule

Liverpool v Tottenham (20:00 BST)

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether it is possible to go as strong as he'd like in the Carabao Cup: "No. You can decide and put the same players in every game. The problem is there'll be a moment when they're really tired. And there is more risk of injury.

"But that's why we cannot say it doesn't work for anyone. There are players who play every three days with no issues. They are very robust, their performances don't change too much.

"There are other players where the risk is bigger and the performances are different. I have to learn who is ready to play games every three days and who needs a rest so their performance level isn't affected.

"I thought I had it quite clear in my mind with some, but with others, it's new, even for them, because they haven't played as many games. We are learning."

Get involved - Who do you want to play against Tottenham?

Liverpool v Tottenham (20:00 BST)

Liverpool

Andoni Iraola has a dilemma on his hands.

In the early rounds of the EFL Cup, Premier League teams are often drawn against lower league opposition and are more inclined to give fringe players or academy graduates some valuable gametime.

Liverpool were instead drawn against Tottenham, and although the Lilywhites are having a tough start to the season, squad rotation is still much more of a risk against a fellow Premier League side.

There could also be an argument that Liverpool should play a strong team to try and bounce back from Saturday's frustrating draw - or should squad rotation be prioritised given the hectic schedule ahead?

Let us know what kind of team you want to see Iraola start on Tuesday but using the 'Get involved' button.

Liverpool's rich history in the League Cup

Liverpool v Tottenham (20:00 BST)

Liverpool

Liverpool are the most successful team in the history of the League Cup with 10 victories to their name.

The Reds first lifted the trophy in 1980-81, the first of four consecutive victories in the competition on a run which finished in 1984.

The Merseyside club had to wait over a decade to life the trophy for a fifth time, thanks to Steve McManaman's brace against Bolton at Wembley in 1995.

It wasn't until the new millennium that the cup returned to Anfield again, clinching the title in 2001 under the guidance of Gerard Houllier. Their seventh triumph came just two years later, again under Houllier, when they beat fierce rivals Manchester United in the final.

In 2012, during his second spell in charge of the club, Kenny Dalglish lifted the club's next title when they overcame Cardiff City in the penalty shootout.

The Liverppool faithful had another long wait they reclaimed the title, doing so in 2022 after an exraordinary 11-10 penalty shootout victory over Chelsea under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp the 10th and so far final League Cup trophy to Liverpool's cabinet in 2024 when they beat Chelsea once again in the final.

Can Andoni Iraola take Liverpool to number 11?

'Hardly a crisis' but Reds 'looked physically and mentally tired'

Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

Aadam Patel

Football Reporter at Anfield

Two Premier League matches at Anfield. Two draws.

For just the third time in 63 years, Liverpool have failed to win either of their opening home games of a league season - not exactly the flying start new boss Andoni Iraola would have been dreaming of.

After such an encouraging midweek performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, full of urgency, Saturday's goalless draw against Fulham was a flat follow-up, especially with the Cottagers lacking in confidence and having conceded seven goals in their first three league games.

The Reds looked physically and mentally tired and, to put it bluntly, like an entirely different team to the one that won against a Diego Simeone side that made it to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

On the first real look at how Iraola's style will cope with two games a week, this was certainly not what the Liverpool head coach, nor the Anfield crowd, would have wanted to see.

His side are still unbeaten and it is hardly a crisis, but he will look at a return of six points from their first four Premier League games as disappointing, particularly by dropping four points at home to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, with another draw coming at Newcastle and their sole success at Ipswich.

The £364m attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz started together for the first time in a league game and although Liverpool had decent chances, they created nowhere near enough.

Isak's 16 touches in 90 minutes was the second fewest for an outfield Reds player on record, having had the fewest (14) against Forest a fortnight ago.

German Wirtz looked a shadow of the player who was terrific in midweek against Atleti and while Barcola and Isak had a few encouraging moments, that is a partnership that will take time to develop.

It is still early, but already there is a realisation from Iraola and his players that when they have such short turnarounds between games, perhaps it is a case of adapting and finding ways to get a result.

With at least seven more Champions League games to follow and a Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham on Tuesday, Liverpool must adapt sooner rather than later as the fixture list cranks up if they are to show they can challenge for honours this season.

Frustrated Liverpool held to a point by Fulham

Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

Aadam Patel

Football Reporter at Anfield

Fulham and boss Alvaro Arbeloa claimed their first Premier League point of the season with a goalless draw at Liverpool.

Less than 72 hours after the Reds beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Andoni Iraola's side lacked the intensity and urgency they showed on Wednesday night as they failed to score for the first time this term.

Arbeloa came into this game under pressure, with Fulham having lost each of their first three league games since he took charge in the summer. But his side put in a solid away performance and could have taken all three points if they were more ruthless in the final third.

Iraola made three Liverpool changes with Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz coming in for Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha.

Arbeloa, who played 98 games for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009, made two changes with Austrian centre-back David Affengruber making his debut in place of Joachim Andersen and Sander Berge replacing Cesar Palacios.

Fulham should have taken the lead early on when Jeremy Jacquet had to clear Gonzalo Garcia's effort off the line after a mix-up between keeper Alisson and Ryan Gravenberch that was entirely Liverpool's own doing.

The visitors were better in the opening half but failed to make it count, with Josh King's effort from inside the box saved by Alisson, before Antonee Robinson headed wide.

Munoz's header was kept out by a strong save from Bernd Leno at the other end, while a Bradley Barcola volley was deflected behind by Timothy Castagne for a corner.

Kerkez came on at the break for Tsimikas, who struggled in the first half and by the hour mark Gravenberch and Munoz were also replaced by Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo as Iraola looked to shift the momentum of the game.

Alexander Isak created an opening but his effort was saved comfortably by Leno, before the Fulham goalkeeper kept out a powerful strike from Dominik Szoboszlai.

The hosts made another double change in the 72nd minute with Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong introduced, but it was to no avail.

Isak headed wide from an injury-time corner and Fulham - who created late chances through King and Kevin - held on for a valuable point.

'These kind of mistakes are unacceptable'

Man Utd 0-1 Man City

Manchester United

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez said of Erling Haaland's winner: "What I can't understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.

"It's so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they're [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League - it's unacceptable.

"It's the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice."

We should get to hear the VAR audio on Tuesday

Man Utd 0-1 Man City

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

The first edition of Match Officials Mic'd Up will be broadcast tomorrow - meaning we will very likely get to hear the VAR audio of what went wrong.

There are two possible scenarios - that the VAR team judged there was no offside offence by Enzo Fernandez, or that they forgot he was offside and did not assess it.

It is very hard to make any argument that Fernandez did not impact Lisandro Martinez or Senne Lammens.

We have see this happen before, in a game between Arsenal and Brentford in 2023.

The VAR, Lee Mason, had a number of situations to check in the lead up to a Brentford goal for Ivan Toney. But within it, the VAR forgot to check an offside position for Christian Norgaard.

It's simple human error.

Haaland was onside from Josko Gvardiol's pass. But he would be offside if Fernandez touched the ball.

Were the VAR team so concerned with Fernandez touching the ball that they did not consider the Argentine's offence of trying to play it and interfering with an opponent?

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