A brace from Daniel Sturridge booked Liverpool’s place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.

Jurgen Klopp fielded a relatively young side for the visit of Tottenham, choosing the likes of Kevin Stewart, Marko Grujic and Divock Origi.

There were also debuts for Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold as both sides made a combined 21 changes for this last 16 encounter.

But it was Sturridge’s goals which separated the sides; first with early strike before following it up in a similar fashion during the 64th minute.

Spurs had given hope of a late comeback after Lucas Leiva was adjudged to have fouled Erik Lamela in the penalty area to allow Vincent Janssen to convert from the spot.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield…

Sturridge back to his best

 

Hitting a brace against a less than half-strength Tottenham is likely to be challenged as a definitive claim that Daniel Sturridge has returned to form.

But after the shenanigans of last weekend, the England international’s presence on the Anfield pitch proved to be more than mere lip service.

Eight minutes was all he needed to find himself among the goals again. Far more than a solitary strike after the half-time interval could have followed that.

Everything fell into place seamlessly; his movement was sharp even if his first touch occasionally failed him in opportune goal scoring positions.

But Sturridge is more than a mere poacher, as he proved with a swerving long-range shot that required all of Michel Vorm’s acrobatics to keep out.

Now with 10 goals in eight EFL Cup outings, maybe this run-out was just what Jurgen Klopp had ordered.

Origi needs more game time

 

Klopp’s preference to allow Liverpool’s attackers rather than strikers to lead the front line should not be at the expense of Divock Origi.

A third successive start in this competition was his most accomplished performance of the season to date as he provided a perfect foil for Sturridge.

Had Vorm not defied gravity to keep out his 20-yard shot, the Belgian could have joined his strike partner for the evening on the score sheet.

His quick-footed approach got the better of Cameron Carter-Vickers, who was nutmegged in an almost Beckenbauer-esque fashion deep in his own penalty area.

A standing ovation and repeated adulation from the Kop was testament that Origi’s efforts deserve more regular game time.

Defensive errors remain consistent

 

Poor marking proved Liverpool’s undoing against West Brom but it was poor decisions which allowed Tottenham a lifeline this evening.

Lucas Leiva’s needless challenge on Erik Lamela gifted Tottenham a lifeline back into the game which they had previously appeared incapable of making.

The Brazilian’s stint as a stand-in centre-back has not been without its merits but this blunder will go down as anything other than a shining example.

Fortunately it did not prove costly, nor did the other lapses in concentration which threatened to see Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs take the tie into extra-time.

Klopp may insist that he has no respect for anyone who questions Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings but they do exist, as the past five days have proved.

Future looks bright for young Reds

 

The last time Liverpool fielded a side of kids and reserves against Tottenham in the League Cup, they pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest shocks.

A repeat was never likely tonight, particularly with a combined 21 changes made between the sides, but Anfield’s young guns more than held their own.

They rarely put a foot wrong and certainly did their future first-team prospects no harm whatsoever.

Even Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could have seen his first start for Liverpool curtailed as quickly as it had begun following a rash challenge on Ben Davies, recovered from the early setback.

If Klopp has his way, more are set to follow in the long-awaited kick start of the Academy’s production line.