Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)
After a hectic and at times sloppy
game our young Liverpool side finally overcame an even younger Spurs side to
knock them out of the EFL cup.
Klopp went into the game swapping the
entire eleven from the weekend’s win over West Brom. Simon Mignolet was
reinstated between the sticks, while a senior debut was handed to right back
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who lined up alongside Lucas Leiva, Ragnar Klavan and
Alberto Moreno in the backline. A midfield diamond featured Kevin Stewart as
the anchor, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ovie Ejaria as the workers, and Marko
Grujic as the attacking midfield focal point. Divock Origi partnered Daniel
Sturridge up front.
The early proceedings went back and
forth with both sides trying to establish midfield control, a four-on-four
counter attack by us fizzed out at Sturridge's feet, and a second break lead to
a Stewart shot well over. Third time lucky, however, and the high press forced
a mistake from Georges N'Koudou. Grujic snapped the ball and his attempted shot
turned into a low cross and assist for a predatory Sturridge, who snuck in
front of a tentative Michel Vorm to poke the ball home with his weaker right
foot.
Minutes later, Sturridge had an
excellent swerving effort from twenty yards fisted over, before a driving run
and poked pass from Origi set Sturridge up all alone with the Spurs keeper, but
this time, his right-footed effort was much too weak and easily collected – it was
definitely evidence that he is lethal on his left foot not so lethal on his
right foot.
On twenty minutes, Vincent Janssen
headed over from a Spurs set piece, as the game became more and more jumbled.
Alexander-Arnold was rightly booked for a late and rash challenge halfway
through the frame, and a clash of heads saw Grujic and Cameron Carter-Vickers
walked off the pitch and subjected to a concussion protocol, which they
evidently passed. A Mignolet save from a Janssen shot on the half hour and a
left-footed effort hooked wide by Grujic ten minutes later was all the half had
left to offer.
Half time analysis
Felt that despite Spurs seemingly
having better control in midfield they lacked the penetration, we were more of
a threat in the attacking areas with Sturridge being the focal point of all our
best chances. We should maybe be more than one goal up at this point.
After a cautious opening to the
second half, the Reds took command of proceedings. A glorious through ball from
Lucas released Origi down the right channel, and the Belgian's inch-perfect
cross was delivered at Sturridge's feet five yards out. With the goal gaping,
the England man was unable to muster a finish, bouncing the ball off his plant
leg, his right foot again letting him down when he needed it. Minutes later,
Wijnaldum found that man Sturridge again, but the latter was unable to reach
the ball after a filthy first-touch nutmeg on Carter-Vickers, largely due to the
defender impeding his passage.
The Liverpool dominance continued,
and a Sturridge cutback was cut out inches from an eager and highly impressive
Wijnaldum before the Dutchman could take his shot. Origi delivered a raking
strike at the top corner from 20-odd yards, but Vorm narrowly touched it over
the bar. A goal was in the air, and it came on sixty-four minutes. Origi held
the ball up and laid it back for Wijnaldum, who with his first touch played a
perfect through ball into a streaking Sturridge. This time there was no
mistake, and the ball was coolly rolled under Vorm in the Spurs goal admittedly
with Sturridge’s stronger left foot and it was great to see Sturridge’s famous
goal celebration back and the other players’ faces looking delighted for him
getting the goal.
Subs were made soon after, as
Nathaniel Clyne came on for Alexander-Arnold, and a great reception from the
fans for Danny Ings who got his third appearance under Klopp, replacing Origi.
Ings was immediately played in by Daniel Sturridge, but took his first touch in
the wrong direction and the chance petered out. Wijnaldum tossed his name in
the free-kick hat soon after, as he stung Vorm's gloves with a dipping effort
from 20 yards out.
Fifteen minutes from time, the
visitors were handed a lifeline as per usual with our team, and it was Lucas
and the referee who conspired to make it happen. The Brazilian
midfielder-cum-defender had Erik Lamela facing the wrong way at the edge of the
area, but insisted on poking at least five times at the Argentinian's ankles.
Lamela went down to the mosquito bites and was handed the most softest of
penalties. Janssen converted from the spot, and Tottenham were suddenly back in
the game.
The match, which had been chaotic
before, now turned frantic, and dangerous situations occurred on both ends of
the pitch on nearly every possession. Lamela appealed for another penalty.
Sturridge had a deflected shot off the bar. Mignolet saved and held a Wanyama
effort from a narrow angle, before smothering the ball at the feet of young
striker Shayon Harrison. Daniel Sturridge had a shot saved at the near post.
Danny Ings hammered a volley off the hands of Vorm when clean through on goal.
No-one found themselves quite able to
bury their chance, however, and Liverpool took home a deserved win in the end.
End of match analysis
Similar to the teams' meeting at
White Hart Lane two months ago, the game was a seesaw affair in which the Reds
edged play and chances by enough to deserve a win, without utterly dominating
their opponent. A twenty-minute spell of superiority to start the second half
should've seen them decisively take the game away from the visitors, but as
chances went begging, it was proven once again that 2-0 is the most dangerous
lead when you're Liverpool.
Man of the match – Daniel Sturridge
Although he should've scored five, Daniel
Sturridge will rightly take home man of the match honours, as he looked sharp
throughout the night, gliding effortlessly into pockets of space created by the
movement around him. It was nice seeing him smiling again especially after his second goal of the night.
Special Mentions
Credit goes to Origi as well, who set
up two of Sturridge's best chances, and did a great deal of dirty work,
pressing, holding up play and softening up defenders. Young guns
Alexander-Arnold and Ejaria were tremendously encouraging in their
performances, looking every bit like the new generation of footballers coming
up through the Liverpool ranks who possess a combination of athletic grace,
technical mastery and game intelligence. Penalty aside, Lucas was near flawless
at the back, while Simon Mignolet made a number of solid saves. Also need to
mention Wijnaldum he is really beginning to grow on me, I initially didn’t see
where he really fitted in our side but every time I see him he continues to
impress me with his simple but effective play in possession, he always seems to
make the right choice which is a sign of a very good player. Just would like to
now celebrate seeing a Wijnaldum goal as this is the only thing currently
missing from his game.
We now await the EFL cup draw not
really fearing anyone left in the competition and move smoothly onto our next
game at the weekend, as the majority of Klopp’s favourite eleven will have had
a full week's rest ahead of Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace, a bogey team in
recent years, and one that has beaten us in three of their past five meetings. Let’s
now change this statistic and put this bogey team tag to rest once and for all.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold
(Clyne 68mins), Lucas, Klavan, Moreno; Grujic (Can 89), Stewart, Wijnaldum;
Origi (Ings 68), Sturridge, Ejaria
Unused subs: Karius, Lovren, Mane, Lallana
Booked: Alexander-Arnold, Ings, Grujic
Goals: Sturridge 9, 64
TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Vorm; Trippier, Wimmer,
Carter-Vickers, Davies; Carroll (Lamela 61), Dier(Wanyama 68), N'koudou(Harrison
83); Onomah, Janssen, Winks
Unused subs: Lopez, Vertonghen, Walker, Amos
Booked: Winks, Wimmer
Goal: Janssen 76 (pen)
Referee: Jon Moss
Attendance: 53,051
After match comments from Klopp and LFC legendary
captain Graeme Souness on talented youngster Alexander-Arnold “Klopp called Alexander-Arnold's early contributions 'wonderful' in a
short statement of praise, and speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports Souness
added: 'He looks extremely athletic, quick, aggressive.
'He has all the attributes to be a top player. He's
in great shape for a ground-coverer… light on his feet, and he's aggressive. He
got himself in trouble once in the first half, but overall I thought he was
very good.'
Kevin Stewart, 23, and 18-year-old Ovie Ejaria also
drew praise from Souness.
After match comments from Klopp on Sturridge and Origi – “"That's his
potential, talent. That's his strength," Klopp told a news conference when
asked about Sturridge's performance. "He's a finisher, a really good
striker -- no doubt about this.
"I
was never in doubt about him even when he didn't score. It's not a question. We
don't have to discuss about quality or something.
"Divock
Origi didn't score tonight but I think he played quite well. Danny Ings when he
came in didn't score but he played really well when he came in.
"That's
the thing, Daniel [scored] wonderful goals for us -- really important. I would
say in the right moments he could have scored three or four. It was really
good."
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