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Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

By Luke ReddyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments194

Daniel Sturridge scores
Daniel Sturridge has now scored 10 times in his past eight League Cup appearances

Daniel Sturridge struck twice as Liverpool overcame Tottenham to reach the EFL Cup quarter-finals and extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

The Reds' striker was an unused substitute in Saturday's win over West Brom but needed less than 10 minutes to turn in instinctively from six yards.

Jurgen Klopp made 11 changes from the weekend, one more than Mauricio Pochettino, and it was Liverpool who created more in a scrappy affair.

The impressive Divock Origi laid on two clear chances that Sturridge wasted, but the pair combined again for the England striker to be sent clear and slide his second under Michel Vorm's body.

Spurs - who started with eight players aged 23 or under - were by no means overawed but struggled in attack until Vincent Janssen slammed home a penalty when substitute Erik Lamela was fouled.

Sturridge curled against the bar with the outside of his left foot late on and substitute Danny Ings saw a one-on-one chance saved as Liverpool moved into Wednesday's draw.

All eyes on the front men

Simon Mignolet made one solid low save from Vincent Janssen in the first half
Simon Mignolet made one solid low save from Vincent Janssen in the first half

The latter stages at Anfield saw Pochettino on his knees in frustration as Spurs exerted pressure but wasted opportunities.

In truth, had Sturridge taken his chances the game would have been out of their reach much earlier.

Even so, with 21-year-old Origi and 18-year-old Ovie Ejaria playing either side of him, Sturridge stepped up to perhaps make a case for starting against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

His lack of a league strike this season has prompted questions over his contribution but he showed a clear nose for goal to pounce when 20-year-old Serb Marko Grujic scuffed his effort.

Janssen is also without a league goal since his £17m summer move from AZ Alkmaar, prompting some observers to draw parallels with Roberto Soldado's struggles at White Hart Lane.

He lacks the pace and movement of Sturridge but his speed in grabbing the ball to take the penalty when Lucas upended Lamela showed a hunger to prove a point.

Pochettino has publicly said he will be patient with a 22-year-old finding his way in England. On this showing, Janssen showed enough to give Spurs' fans hope.

How did the young faces fare?

Trent Alexander-Arnold
Steven Gerrard has written that England are "all over" Trent Alexander-Arnold

Both managers put faith in youth, with 13 players who started the match aged 23 or under. Klopp gave a debut to right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player Steven Gerrard has described as "versatile" with "all the attributes you need".external-link

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): Klopp said he started brightly, bursting forward to take a ball in his stride early on. A rash tackle on Ben Davies earned a yellow card but showed commitment nonetheless.

Marko Grujic (Liverpool): His 6ft 3in frame looked powerful in midfield when carrying the ball and he got forward smartly to create the opener and later pull a shot wide.

Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool): Looked confident on his full debut, was prepared to pass the ball in tricky areas and was at ease when called upon to dribble.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Spurs): On his second start for Spurs, the USA Under-23 international faced the movement of Liverpool's tricky front three. He stood up to it as well as anyone in a white shirt.

Harry Winks (Spurs): The 20-year-old was neat and tidy in Tottenham's midfield alongside Eric Dier and looked more at home than Tom Carroll, who is four years his senior.

Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Spurs): Since his £9m move from Marseille the winger had had just 70 minutes of first-team football before the trip to Anfield. Up against a young full-back in Alexander-Arnold, he did not ask enough questions.

Man of the match - Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge scored early on and had several good chances to add to his tally
Divock Origi produced some quality bursts to run him close but Sturridge was his side's go-to man on a night where youth was given a chance and, despite missing several chances, his contribution was telling

What the bosses said...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "The game was what I expected, in a positive way for us. Then, for part of it, we lost concentration and caused our problems by ourselves. Overall, the summary is very positive - a deserved win."

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "I'm pleased with the performance but not the result. We fought until the end and created chances. It was a great experience and we can take a lot of positives. This will improve our confidence for the future.

"The young players are very important for our future, to be a better squad.

"I think it was a fantastic opportunity to show their quality and a great experience to capitalise on, to take positive things for the future."

The stats you need to know...

  • Sturridge has now scored 10 times in his past eight League Cup appearances. All four of his goals for Liverpool this season have been in the League Cup.
  • Both of Vincent Janssen's goals for Spurs have been penalties in the League Cup.
  • Liverpool are 10 matches unbeaten in all competitions and have won eight games in that run.
  • In 14 matches this season, Spurs have only scored twice in a game on four occasions.

What's next?

Liverpool will come up against their former striker Christian Benteke when they travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday for the day's late kick-off. Tottenham host champions Leicester City earlier in the day.

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-1-2

  • 22Mignolet
  • 66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 26minsSubstituted forClyneat 68'minutes
  • 21Leiva
  • 17Klavan
  • 18Moreno
  • 5Wijnaldum
  • 35Stewart
  • 53Ejaria
  • 16GrujicBooked at 84minsSubstituted forCanat 89'minutes
  • 15Sturridge
  • 27OrigiSubstituted forIngsat 68'minutesBooked at 82mins

Substitutes

  • 1Karius
  • 2Clyne
  • 6Lovren
  • 19Mané
  • 20Lallana
  • 23Can
  • 28Ings

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 13Vorm
  • 16Trippier
  • 38Carter-Vickers
  • 27WimmerBooked at 90mins
  • 33Davies
  • 15DierSubstituted forWanyamaat 67'minutes
  • 29WinksBooked at 90mins
  • 25Onomah
  • 28CarrollSubstituted forLamelaat 61'minutes
  • 14NkoudouSubstituted forHarrisonat 83'minutes
  • 9Janssen

Substitutes

  • 5Vertonghen
  • 11Lamela
  • 12Wanyama
  • 30López
  • 39Harrison
  • 45Walkes
  • 46Amos
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
53,051

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home18
Away9
Shots on Target
Home9
Away5
Corners
Home6
Away6
Fouls
Home12
Away19

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Liverpool 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Josh Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur).

  4. Post update

    Emre Can (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Josh Onomah.

  6. Booking

    Kevin Wimmer (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Kevin Wimmer (Tottenham Hotspur).

  8. Post update

    Danny Ings (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  9. Booking

    Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur).

  11. Post update

    Danny Ings (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Post update

    Attempt missed. Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Alberto Moreno following a corner.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Liverpool. Emre Can replaces Marko Grujic because of an injury.

  14. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  15. Post update

    Delay in match Marko Grujic (Liverpool) because of an injury.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Michel Vorm.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Danny Ings (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

  18. Post update

    Attempt saved. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Danny Ings.

  19. Post update

    Attempt saved. Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Winks.

  20. Booking

    Marko Grujic (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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194 comments

  • Comment posted by Rob, at 23:12 25 Oct 2016

    Always interesting to see how clubs approach the League Cup, and I think it is a great competition for Manager's to give recovering, squad and younger players a chance. Sturridge should have had half a dozen goals, but hardly surprising given his pedigree. The biggest disappointment was Spurs not giving their player Winks the squad number 40 - a magnificent opportunity missed:)

  • Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 00:36 26 Oct 2016

    Bit of a trolling comment here but Klopp is the manager Man Utd should have hired. Likeable persona, passionate and plays entertaining attacking football. Contrast him with the 3 they have hired: Moyes, LVG and Mourinho. Klopp is clearly different class, as a coach and a person. Liverpool fans must be ecstatic Ferguson's ego and Woodward/the Glazers incompetence have knocked Utd off their perch.

  • Comment posted by RealFootball, at 23:25 25 Oct 2016

    What amazes me most about Klopp is how he's turned a mix-matched, inconsistent Rodgers' team into one playing fluidly and scoring freely.

    Not only has the guy transformed the clubs fortunes in just 12 months, but he's done it all whilst having a profitable net spend during the summer transfer window.

    The season is still very young for Liverpool, but the signs are there.

  • Comment posted by DepressedandBored, at 23:14 25 Oct 2016

    Well, fielding a completely changed 11 with origi, sturridge and wjinaldum is far cry from when our options were borini lambert and ballotelli

  • Comment posted by munchie, at 23:43 25 Oct 2016

    Legendary Blues.

    You are the worst troll on BBC HYS, if it is not on the F1 page it is on here.

    If only there was an ignore button for parasites like you.

  • Comment posted by User0192983237, at 23:32 25 Oct 2016

    15.
    Posted by
    the-juice

    taking the wee wee out of someone whose had cancer, stay classy.... says a lot about you toe rag... I hate you

  • Comment posted by Simba, at 23:44 25 Oct 2016

    @15 the juice,

    Have some respect for someone who has survived cancer and don't be such an ignorant prat!

  • Comment posted by JimmyBoats, at 23:09 25 Oct 2016

    The way football should be played... Future is bright for both sides!

  • Comment posted by NeutralRed, at 23:16 25 Oct 2016

    LFC seem to have strength in depth now to be able to mount a challenge this year.

    However not sure backup midfield have enough to create chances if first team starters are absent.

    Sturridge & Origi were the difference between the 2 teams today.

  • Comment posted by redforever, at 00:20 26 Oct 2016

    Really frustrated that we didn't have 60% possession.

    Man of the Match was Vorm, what an excellent second choice keeper he is.

    Spurs second string isn't as good as Liverpool's, that's all we learned tonight.

  • Comment posted by Rich-D, at 23:05 25 Oct 2016

    Some promising youngsters on both sides, but LFC in particular will be pleased with theirs.......Trent Alexander, Kevin Stewart, Marko Grujic........could even through the likes of Origi and Moreno into that bracket (Moreno looks like he's starting to realise he's a defender).......good times ahead hopefully!

  • Comment posted by Tom, at 23:22 25 Oct 2016

    God I hate Sturridge's awful celebration

  • Comment posted by Chippelsea, at 08:36 26 Oct 2016

    Is anyone going to tell Sturridge he looks like a dork when he does his goal celebration?

  • Comment posted by User0478174702, at 23:01 25 Oct 2016

    Will come unstuck against better teams if we don't get that third goal

  • Comment posted by wozy, at 23:22 25 Oct 2016

    liverpool looking the real deal !

  • Comment posted by cmac, at 00:40 26 Oct 2016

    Just shows the strength in depth at both clubs, glad to see LFC continue their run, and hopefully they can win it this year. Klopp has them playing very good footnall, best in the league arguably and it made little difference to the mentality, even though it was a whole new starting line up. Also glad Sturridge got a couple of goals, do his confidence no harm.

  • Comment posted by Landlova, at 00:38 26 Oct 2016

    Appreciate the game if only for testing of younger players and seeing prospects for the future. Be interesting to see if Liverpool keep them in the starting line up in the quarter final!

  • Comment posted by gigolo, at 00:26 26 Oct 2016

    Find it hard to get excited about the EFL cup, but another good performance and some more youngsters with experience and usual starters rested.

  • Comment posted by User0414236133, at 01:13 26 Oct 2016

    @ 14 leg end blues

    Ahhh the comments of a bandwagon fan display an ignorance unrivalled !!

    Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Everton, Spurs, Notm Forest and more had success before some bored billionaire bankrolled your club.

    You've won NOTHING but PAID for much . . . .

    In a land of Richards - you are truly the head !!!

    .

  • Comment posted by bob, at 11:55 26 Oct 2016

    Agree with many of the comments about Spurs having bigger fish to fry, but the game did show again the two big weaknesses they have. One - they have no proven strikers other gab Kane. Two - they have no plan B. Liverpool constantly fed Sturridge but at no time did Spurs try to mark him or change tactics in any wa y to counter him. These weaknesses are evident every week

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