Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Daniel Sturridge brace send Reds into quarter finals

Full-time: Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

All over at Anfield! Liverpool hang on for the win and to seal their place in the quarter finals. Daniel Sturridge is the goal hero and, in truth, Liverpool were largely the better team.

Thanks for joining us this evening. Until next time...

Four minuted of added time. Spurs are desperately seeking another goal.

In the more immediate future, though, they have a free-kick to defend after a tackle from Harry Winks that led to a caution.

Up at the other end now, and Ings almost marks his comeback with a goal. After collecting a misplaced clearance, the former Burnley man volleys goalwards - but Vorm makes another strong save to push it behind for a corner.

Meanwhile, Grujic - who has been decent tonight - is being replaced by Emre Can for the last few minutes.

Ah, Harrison has fluffed his lines at the critical moment! The ball is floated over from the left flank by Lamela to Harrison, but the youngster - who is totally unmarked - gets his chest control all wrong.

With the final whistle in sight, Harrison is brought on by Spurs for his competitive debut. Can he make himself a hero? We're about to find out... Five minutes left on Merseyside.

... and now Sturridge goes within a whisker of bagging his hat-trick! He collects the ball on the edge of the box and then dinks the ball with the outside of his left peg over the keeper and against the bar. What an effort that was!

Suddenly, this has become a brilliant, end-to-end cup tie.

Another penalty for Spurs!? No, nothing doing on this occasion - although that looked to be a more blatant foul!

On this occasion, Lamela turns Moreno in the box and looks to have a shot at goal before he is pulled down. Very, very luck for the Spaniard, that.

Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Janssen)

Spurs are back in this game, as Janssen powers the ball down the centre and into the net. We've still got 15 minutes left at Anfield and Tottenham have some hope!

Penalty to Spurs! A lifeline for the away side?

Klaven commits a foul against Lamela just inside the area and Jon Moss points to the spot. Janssen grabs the ball immediately and here we go...

Dany Ings tries to wriggle free in the Spurs boss, but his goal-bound effort is blocked by a defender. The Anfield crowd would love to see Ings get a goal tonight.

A minute later, a well struck free-kick from Wijnaldum is smartly saved by Vorm in the Tottenham net, punching the ball clear of danger.

Both sides making subs now. Wanyama comes on for Eric Dier.

Liverpool are bringing on Clyne and Danny Ings, who gets a special reception from the home crowd after his injury layoff.

GOAL: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Sturridge)

It's Dan at the double at Anfield! The Liverpool striker adds to his first half goal by calmly finishing in a one-on-one situation with Vorm after being played through by Georginio Wijnaldum.

Strurridge took his time and never looked like he was going to miss. Anfield is bouncing!

Davies overhits a cross and Janssen looks incredibly frustrated as it flies over his head. I feel a little sorry for the striker, because he's getting nothing to feed off.

Vorm is forced to make a cracking save after a swerving long-range effort from Origi, who must have thought he'd scored. It's one-way traffic at Anfield now and Tottenham need to get some more experience on the field. They're hanging on.

Speaking of which...

Liverpool are really pushing for a second now and the Anfield crowd is in full voice. Their latest attack ends with Sturridge appealing for a penalty against Carter-Vickers after he seemed to be impeded - but there's nothing doing.

Erik Lamela is poised to be introduced, meanwhile. The Argentine should offer a bit more creativity for the visitors.

Ah, Sturridge has missed a sitter!

The ball is played into the right channel, where Origi sends across a low, pin-point cross to Sturridge, who misses an open goal! All he had to do was to sweep that into an unguarded net from 10 yards.

That could have been the matchwinner, too, but Spurs survive.

Well, just as I type that, Janssen sends a pass out to Kieran Trippier outside the box and he unleashes a dipping right-footed effort that only just goes over the top of the box. That's a start at least.

Then, Trippier wins a corner that ... comes to nothing.

It all still feels a bit aimless from Tottenham at the moment. They're seeing plenty of the ball but there's a distinct lack of penetration that a player like Dele Alli could provide.

Janssen is feeding off scraps again in the early moments of the half and the under-pressure striker is coming deeper and deeper to get himself involved in the game.

For Liverpool, remember, Danny Ings is among the players available to Jurgen Klopp. We expect to see the striker at some stage, possibly for Sturridge.

Right, the players are back out at Anfield and we're under way. Spurs have 45 minutes to save themselves in the EFL Cup.

Maurcio Pochettino will want to see a bit more of an attacking threat from his side. No changes at the break, though.

Back at Anfield, Daniel Sturridge is half way towards proving his point to the Liverpool manager. He'll be seeking a second goal to force his way back into Jurgen Klopp's first-choice side.

Here's a reminder of the Spurs bench, by the way. A half-time change in the offing?

As a quick reminder, you can follow the game at the Emirates here. I won't ruin the surprise and tell you the score.

Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

The hosts lead in what's been a game of few chances at Anfield. Daniel Sturridge's first goal at the remodelled stadium separates the side at the moment and Mauricio Pochettino will be looking for more from his boys after the break.

Two minutes of time being added at Anfield. Just enough time for a second goal, possibly.

Spurs look to launch a break but Josh Onomah is tackled just before he was about to play a potentially defence-splitting pass. Moreno - who has impressed in this opening period - is the man with the last-ditch tackle. A good one, that.

Up at the other end, meanwhile...

Liverpool win the ball in the middle third of the field and look to launch a quick break. Eventually the ball makes its way towards Grujic in the right channel but he drags his effort wide of the post from a tight-ish angle and Tottenham survive.

Liverpool have become a bit flat in the last ten minutes or so. And Klopp is getting a touch agitated with his boys. The German is starting to bark instructions at his team in that inimitable way of his.

Just over five minutes until the break at Anfield.

Janssen comes up with Spurs' best moment of the game so far, unleashing a powerful effort across the face of goal that Mignolet does well to palm to safety. That was a little better from the visitors, though.

The game is a little fragmented at the moment. These look like two much-changed sides at the moment - and Spurs are lacking a bit of creativity in the final third.

Now Cameron Carter-Vickers has picked up a head knock in a challenge with Grujic. The 18-year-old looks a little groggy, but it seems he is going to continue.

Noticeably, while the teenager was receiving some treatment, Mauricio Pochettino was trying to pass some messages on to his young players.

Ouch! Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold goes flying into a tackle, exposing his studs in the process, and he goes into the book because of it. To be honest, the youngster could have seen red there, because the youngster was off his feet and not in control of his body.

There's no doubt that conceding the early goal has knocked Spurs off their stride. They're getting back into things now, though, enjoying a little period of sustained possession, without threatening too much.

How will Tottenham's young side respond to that early, undeserved setback, then? This will tell Maurcio Pochettino a lot about his side, I fancy.

Meanwhile, Origi has just run half the length of the pitch and then finds Sturridge - but he's unable to finish. Still 1-0.

Spurs had actually made a solid start to the match and can consider themselves somewhat unlucky to find themselves behind.

Sturridge, really, is simply the beneficiary of a bit of luck - but you have to be there to score them, as they say.

Sturridge almost adds a second with an decent shot, but for a fine save from Vorm in the Spurs net. This match has come to life now.

GOAL: Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Sturridge)

Dan's the man at Anfield!

Daniel Sturridge gives Liverpool the lead, latching onto a free ball in the six-yard box after Grujic's shot is deflected into his path and the England man pokes the ball home.

It's not exactly a goal for the ages - but Liverpool lead nonetheless.

Alberto Moreno slaloms past a couple of tackles before being brought to the ground. The much-maligned Spaniard has made a bright start to the game.

Both teams are, unsurprisingly, looking to employ a high press, attempting to win the ball back high up the field. It's all a bit frenetic at the moment.

Tottenham win a couple of early corners - but they fail to find the intended target and Liverpool's cleansheet remains intact.

Decent start from the visitors, though, who have plenty of inexperience in their ranks tonight.

Tottenham get the game under way, playing in their traditional white strip and Liverpool in Red.

Here come then teams, then, as You'll Never Walk Alone rings around one of the world's most famous stadiums. For some players out their tonight, this will be a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

The stage is set. Anfield is packed to the rafters.

Right, less than ten minutes to go until kick-off now and Anfield appears to be jam-packed for this one. Night game are always special on Merseyside - and there's a buzz around the ground.

The crowd and the atmosphere is slowly building inside Anfield. Despite these two sides playing out a goalless draw earlier in the season, I think everyone is expecting an open, entertaining game this evening.

There's also the small matter of a place in the quarter final of the EFL Cup at stake, too, so there's plenty of incentive on Merseyside tonight.

Although he's not in the net this evening, Tottenham fans are sure to be interested in the future of their skipper Hugo Lloris, who has been discussing his contract situation over the last few days.

The Frenchman revealed he is in "no rush" to sign a new deal at White Lane, despite being happy at the North London club. "At the moment I just think about the close future, the next game and I repeat that I feel very pleased to be a Spurs player and to be the skipper too," the Tottenham goalkeeper recently explained, according to ESPN.

"I feel very involved and I try to do my best for my team and my club. I don't think at all about my future. I'm under contract too and there's no rush to think about that."

Lloris, 29, still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract. Time to worry Spurs fans, or just the usual negotiations? Time will tell, I suppose.

The players are going through their last-minute preparations at Anfield now. As a reminder, this game kicks off at 19:45pm - as do the other EFL Cup ties this evening...

• Arsenal v Reading (19:45 BST)
• Bristol City v Hull City (19:45 BST)
• Leeds v Norwich (19:45 BST)
• Liverpool v Tottenham (19:45 BST)
• Newcastle v Preston (19:45 BST)

Moving away from tonight's game slightly, and in the last few days, Jurgen Klopp has suggested he is open to the possibility of Steven Gerrard returning to Anfield.

The former Reds captain - who scored 185 goals in 708 appearances with Liverpool - recently added a cryptic post on Instagram that many people have interpreted as a goodbye message to his current club LA Galaxy.

"Living in Los Angeles and playing for the great Galaxy supporters has been a privilege," the ex-England stalwart wrote recently. "You have made this place feel like home to me. This city and this club will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you."

And Klopp subsequently suggested Gerrard could return to Liverpool in some capacity, saying: "Steven Gerrard is always so welcome at Liverpool FC – you can't imagine how welcome.

"But everything that we have already talked about or will speak about stays in this situation. That's how I know Stevie and that's how I am. But nobody should worry that there's no space for Steven Gerrard. Everything will be fine, 100%."

Both Klopp and Pochettino seem to have pretty settled first-choice teams, but there is scope for one or two players to push their individual case forward this evening.

You never know, if an inexperienced player impresses under the lights at Anfield, they could find themselves playing in the Premier League or Champions League soon enough.

Both of these teams are, of course, considered to be among the contenders for the Premier League crown.

But with Liverpool having no European football to play and Tottenham's hopes of winning the Champions League being remote at best, I wonder what fans of the clubs make of their chosen line-up. In short, should Liverpool and Tottenham have fielded stronger teams, or have their bosses got it right?

Meanwhile, if you're a neutral and you want to follow the goings on at the Emirates this evening, we're across that game, too.

Breaking team news

Whatever Klopp can do, Pochettino can do better. The Argentine has named an even more experimental team. Eric Dier captains a youthful and inexperienced Spurs side, who have Janssen leading the line.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Winks, Onomah, Carroll, Nkoudou, Janssen

Subs: Lopez, Walkes, Vertonghen, Amos, Lamela, Wanyama, Harrison

Cue fancy graphic...

Breaking team news

The Liverpool side has been handed in ahead of schedule and it's an interesting-looking line-up named by Jurgen Klopp.

A few unfamiliar faces in there tonight, with Alexander-Arnold, Ejaria and Stewart all getting a chance to impress at Anfield.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lucas, Klavan, Moreno, Stewart, Wijnaldum, Grujic, Ejaria, Origi, Sturridge

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Can, Lallana, Mane, Ings

And what of Tottenham, injury-wise? Well, Moussa Sissoko will miss the visit to Liverpool after Spurs accepted a Football Association violent conduct charge against the midfielder.

Meanwhile, the EFL Cup fourth round trip to Anfield will also come too early for Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld, both of whom are injured.

"We are in a period where we need all the squad, all the players to compete," Mauricio Pochettino said in his pre-match press conference. "It's difficult now because he is a player who was in our plans to play tomorrow so we have to change a little bit."

Prior to the game, Jurgen Klopp confirmed Danny Ings will play a part when Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield.

The striker has struggled to get into the first-team after returning from a long-term injury and has been restricted to regular appearances for the Reds U23 side.

But, Klopp said: "He had a long-term injury, he is not injured anymore and he is fit. Everything is good, he plays in the U23s – that's all for his career and everything is good. How he is doing with this attitude, everything will be good at the end."

The larger-than-life German added: "What I can say is he will be involved in the squad for tomorrow 100 per cent, and all the rest, we have to see."

Preview

Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield in what is one of three glamour fixtures in the fourth round of the League Cup. The two teams have met once already this season in the Premier League and played out a draw at White Hart Lane.

But Liverpool are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions and Klopp will be confident of winning under the lights at Anfield. However, Tottenham are also in good form, having lost just once in all competitions thus far.

Good evening and welcome to IBTimes UK's live coverage of this much-anticipated clash between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield.

These are two of the most exciting teams in the country at the moment - and hopefully the game will match that billing.

We'll bring you the build-up and the all-important team news as soon as it filters through...