Two goals from Daniel Sturridge have earned Liverpool a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup.
The striker should have had at least a hat-trick in the last-16 clash at Anfield but two strikes were enough as the Merseyside giants inflicted just a second defeat of the season on their North London opponents.
After a fast-paced start from both teams, Liverpool opened the scoring after just nine minutes as Sturridge got himself back on the scoresheet for the first time in nearly two months.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou slipped and lost possession on the left flank and after Marko Grujic took the ball towards the penalty area, he fired it across the area where Sturridge was able to convert into the roof of the net from six yards out.
Moments later, Sturridge almost found a second when he curled the ball towards the top corner from 20 yards but goalkeeper Michel Vorm was able to tip his effort over the crossbar.
Sturridge was in the thick of everything and on 18 minutes, he should have found the back of the net after being found by Divock Origi but despite having time and space, he scuffed his shot straight at Vorm.
Spurs were having their own opportunities up the other end of the pitch but they rarely tested Simon Mignolet, with the Belgian stopper only being required to parry a half-volley from Vincent Janssen.
Shortly before half time, Liverpool nearly doubled their lead when Ovie Ejaria and Sturridge combined to set up Grujic but he dragged his attempt wide of the far post.
Kieran Trippier had the first chance after the restart as he volleyed over from 25 yards before up the other end, Sturridge squandered a chance from six yards out as he miscued an Origi cross when it looked easier to score.
Just before the hour mark, Origi forced an outstanding save from Vorm who was able to tip his long-range strike over the crossbar but it did not take long for Liverpool to net a second.
A through-ball from Georginio Wijnaldum found the run of Sturridge and after biding his time, he slotted his shot under Vorm and into the middle of the net.
Liverpool pressed for a third as Sturridge sent a free kick just wide before Wijnaldum forced Vorm into another save from a similar position but with 15 minutes left, Spurs got back into the match.
Lucas Leiva was adjudged to have brought down Erik Lamela and Janssen made no mistake from the spot as he blasted the ball down the centre of the goal.
It sparked Spurs into life but Liverpool remained dangerous up the other end of the pitch, and Sturridge found Vorm in inspired form as the forward saw his shot with the outside of his boot tipped onto the underside of the crossbar.
Spurs' stand-in goalkeeper then denied substitute Danny Ings after he had run clear of the defence but it mattered little as the Merseyside giants comfortably held on to earn their place in the quarter-finals.
Darren Plant
