Robbie Fowler has criticised Tottenham Hotspur midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur for 'standing around' during Cody Gakpo's goal in Liverpool's 3-1 Carabao Cup victory at Anfield.
Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai secured Liverpool's place in the fourth round. Conor Gallagher pulled one back for Spurs after Gakpo's 54th-minute effort, but Szoboszlai's stoppage-time strike, following a fine save from Giorgi Mamardashvili to deny Omar Marmoush, sealed the win.
Fowler's criticism of Tottenham's defending
Speaking on ITV after the match, Fowler said of Gakpo's goal: 'There are too many Tottenham players standing around. You know when Gakpo has the ball that he's going to cut inside but you see Bergvall and you see Bentancur just standing there. Just go across and make his job harder.'
The result keeps Liverpool undefeated in all competitions this season. Andoni Iraola's side have won one and drawn three in the Premier League, and opened their Champions League campaign with a victory at Atletico Madrid before a goalless draw at home to Fulham.
Praise for Liverpool's performance
Fowler praised the atmosphere and Liverpool's display. 'That's what this club is all about, the atmosphere tonight,' he said. 'It was quite a poor performance at the weekend and you need to give the fans something to get behind you. They were very, very good tonight. Okay, it wasn't vintage Liverpool but they've done enough, they've played the right way.'
He added: 'They controlled parts of the game, they lost a little bit when the two young lads went off but they were good value for the win tonight.'
On Mac Allister's opening goal, Fowler said: 'I agree with the club not giving him a new contract yet because you've got to earn that right. But his performances have been very good since he's come out and had the argument. I think he's controlled parts of the game. He gets a little bit of luck with the ball falling to him for the goal but what a finish, he puts it into the top corner away from the goalkeeper.'
Next fixtures for both sides
Of Szoboszlai's 91st-minute strike, Fowler said: 'Sometimes you put your foot through the ball, you drive through, but that's a controlled drive. He knows exactly what he's doing, he drives it and it's going away from the goalkeeper.'
Liverpool return to Premier League action away to Bournemouth this weekend. Tottenham, meanwhile, host Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.
