How the national media responded after Liverpool defeated Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool defeated Leicester City on Wednesday night by a score of 3-1 to go to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Reds fell behind to a counterattack goal by Kasey McAteer in the first half, but they rallied after the interval thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Diogo Jota.
In this game, Liverpool overcame a one-goal deficit to win 3-1 for the fourth time in as many games this season. The Carabao Cup match between Jurgen Klopp’s team and Bournemouth is scheduled to take place the week of October 30.
The national media and Paul Gorst, editor of the ECHO, each offered their view of what transpired at Anfield. His remarks are included here.
“The secret is out.”
The Times’ Paul Joyce wrote:
“On the training pitches at Liverpool’s AXA headquarters, the shooting prowess of Dominik Szoboszlai has been wowing his team-mates from the moment he arrived in the summer. The secret is now out.
“The midfielder produced a jaw-dropping strike just when his new side needed it to continue a seamless adaptation to life at Anfield and snap the resistance of Championship leaders Leicester City in the process.
“It was already telling that Jürgen Klopp turned to his £60million signing from RB Leipzig as this Carabao Cup tie remained deadlocked at 1-1 and almost instantly he provided a sprinkling of stardust. Taking a pass from Wataru Endo and setting himself for a right-foot shot, Szoboszlai rifled a vicious shot that arrowed into the top corner from 20 yards in a blur and left Anfield a little more enrapt with a player who has quickly won the hearts and minds of supporters.”
‘Rarely in doubt’
The Guardian’s Andy Hunter wrote:
“Liverpool came from behind to win for the fifth time in eight matches. It was their fourth successive 3-1 win and the sixth time this season that Jurgen Klopp’s team have scored three in a game. Even when trailing at half-time, Liverpool’s passage to the fourth round was rarely in doubt.
“The visitors’ determination to play out from the back under Enzo Maresca is admirable but highly risky against a relentless, intelligent opponent like Liverpool. So it proved when Gakpo levelled. Wataru Endo intercepted an ambitious clearance from Albrighton, enabling Ryan Gravenberch to find compatriot Gakpo inside the visitors’ area. The Netherlands international turned sharply to beat Stolarczyk with a precise finish.”
‘Mirror image’
The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe wrote:
“It was rather like Szoboszlai had spent 65 minutes watching on the sidelines considering how he would nonchalantly take control of proceedings.
“There is a thrilling familiarity about the Hungary captain imposing his class when his side most need it. The Gerrard comparison absorbs his unerring capacity to strike with venom from distance – ‘like unleashing a hand grenade’ as Klopp put it – in tandem with his athleticism and ability to pick the right pass.
“Only the Liverpool scouts can testify to how good they thought the 22-year-old to be when meeting his £60 million RB Leipzig buy-out clause last summer. If they truly knew this was his level, it is no wonder they were willing to walk away from Jude Bellingham. Szoboszlai is a mirror image.”
‘Hungarian hammer’
According to Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail:
“Dominik Szoboszlai brought out the Hungarian hammer for a winning strike worthy of another great Liverpool No8, Steven Gerrard.
“Jurgen Klopp turned to Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez midway through the second half at 1-1 and the £60million midfielder needed only five minutes to unleash his magic right boot. Wataru Endo fed Szoboszlai on the edge of the box and he connected perfectly as the ball hurtled into the top corner.
“Liverpool have now won their last five games scoring three goals or more – the first time that has happened since Kenny Dalglish’s team in the 1980s.”
‘Embarrassment of riches’
According to Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail:
“If there has been one key feature from the early weeks of Liverpool’s season, it’s been Jurgen Klopp’s ability to showcase his new-found strength in depth on a weekly basis.
“File this deserved Carabao Cup triumph against Leicester City alongside Newcastle United, Wolves and LASK. With just eight games played, Klopp is already carving out consistent results by utilising everyone within his ranks. It hasn’t always been the case but the manager has an embarrassment of riches in a squad that is now 19 games unbeaten dating back to early April.
“For the fifth time this season, the Reds won 3-1 and this time it was achieved without having to trouble Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker or Andy Robertson, who all had the night off, and captain Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz who both kicked their heels on the bench. Throw in the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara still have to come back into the fold and it’s clear the manager has assembled a sensational squad.
“Game-changing substitutions at pivotal junctures has been a consistent theme for Klopp and the Reds boss is calling it to perfection virtually every week just now. This time, it was the arrivals of Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai, in particular, that steered the game Liverpool’s way after Cody Gakpo has cancelled out Kasey McAteer’s early opener at the Kop end. The Reds’ reward is a fourth-round trip to Premier League rivals Bournemouth.”