ReactionAndoni Iraola press conference: Carabao Cup win, 'contagious' Koumas and Szoboszlai 'worldie'

A Reds team showing 10 changes from the previous game were 3-1 winners over Spurs at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored either side of half-time, before Conor Gallagher struck back.

The sensational long-range effort from Dominik Szoboszlai in stoppage time sealed victory for Iraola’s charges, however, and a spot in the next stage.

Read the head coach’s verdict on the evening at his post-match press conference in full below.

On his assessment of the performance after making 10 changes to the XI…

Yes, it’s true that I made a lot of changes but I think I needed to do it because we could see the other day we lacked a little bit of energy, we needed fresh legs. I’m happy because all the players have given us intensity, have given us aggressiveness. I think we’ve been good in a lot of parts of the game. And also happy because we’ve deserved the reward to win the game and to have earned the right to be in the next round.

On Gakpo showing his worth to the team…

Yes, Cody gives us not just the goals and the assists, he gives us also some physicality, he gives us calmness on the ball. And also players like him, like Ronald [Araujo], Alexis, with a team that was quite young, I think his experience has helped us a lot.

On the contribution of young players…

I was happy for them. In different positions, different demands. But I think the best thing is probably that they were [tired] when I subbed them; Trey [Nyoni] was cramping, Rio [Ngumoha] couldn’t have run a lot more, [James] McConnell the same. When this happens, it’s because you’ve given us what you’ve got. They have especially been very, very energetic, with the willingness of winning the duels, making them feel their presence. I was happy for them.

On Lewis Koumas ‘encapsulating that more than most’…

I said it during the week and I say it for a reason. He does it in training every day. He is very clear what he needs to do, what the team needs. Also, the energy he shows is contagious for the rest, when you see the ones up front giving everything you are kind of forced to go, go behind and use the same intensity levels. I’m very happy for him.

• Read our match report from Anfield here

On what he was thinking when he saw Szoboszlai preparing to shoot for his goal…

I think the three goals we scored honestly were very good goals. The origin of the goals. The first one and the second one are also very important for us. But the third goal obviously is a worldie, it’s outstanding. The thing with Dom is, before shooting you are trusting he might score. With other players maybe you are thinking, ‘It’s too far.’ With Dom, everyone is thinking he might score.

On whether Joe Gomez coming off at half-time was planned…

Yes. Joe has been doing the recovery process very well and with him it made sense. It wasn’t set but the plan was not a lot more than 45, yes.