Sturridge and Origi power up as Liverpool extend unbeaten run

10 games and counting. 10 games and there’s no signs of their streak subsiding. 10 games, 26 goals scored and just seven let in.

Mauricio Pochettino similarly switched up his personnel quite drastically on Tuesday evening, but by his own admission pre-match, the hosts had the advantage of a superior squad.

Spurs had their moments in the game, but the encounter belonged to Liverpool, who should have recorded a more bloated scoreline than 2-1.

Klopp had described his selection dilemma as a “luxury problem,” and his fringe players proved why. Opting to field Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge in tandem up front, the duo illustrated just how blessed the German is in the attacking department.

Most managers would love to have either in their first 11, the 49-year-old has enough forward talent to normally keep both in reserve.

Origi delivered a performance to put him in man-of-the-match contention, while England international Sturridge converted both of Liverpool’s goals. On another night, he'd quite comfortably have taken home the match ball.

"There is no discussion about the quality of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi or Danny Ings, it’s only the situation and you cannot play with four strikers," Klopp said post-match.

"If you have an idea how we can do this plus defending, then come to me and tell me! But it’s all good – Divock has big potential, is a good player and Belgium is obviously a lucky country with this big number of strikers. 

"Sturridge is a finisher, he’s a really good striker, there’s no doubt about this. I was never in doubt about this, even when he didn’t score."

Elsewhere on the pitch, the seasoned Ragnar Klavan and Lucas were measured - a soft, late penalty against the Brazilian aside - while the youngsters were impressive. Ovie Ejaria and Kevin Stewart were menacing in midfield, the latter particularly dominant, with Marko Grujic roaming with intent ahead of them.

"He was good, very good. He is very important. I’ve said it a few times, he is the best challenger in the squad. An outstanding challenger – one on one situations, he is really ugly to play against," was Klopp's assessment of Stewart.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was ambitious and alert, also dealing with an early yellow card in what the Reds boss considered "a smart way."

The much-maligned Alberto Moreno delivered a robust display with four tackles, two interceptions and two clearances. Those defensive numbers were complemented by steady stream of passes into the opposition half, at a success rate of 87 per cent with the full-back offering as much in attack as he did mopping up.

All told, Liverpool edged Spurs in almost every department, with only Michel Vorm preventing victory by a greater margin.

Klopp’s men created more than their north London counterparts, and also enjoyed superiority in the duels. It didn’t take long for the noise to reverberate around Anfield, with Sturridge ruining Vorm’s prospects of a clean sheet on nine minutes. Spurs ceded possession sloppily and Grujic picked up the loose ball, drove forward and got a shot away. The effort ricocheted off an opposition player, with Sturridge superbly reading the deflection. He darted in to meet the ball and buried it wonderfully to convert his seventh goal in the competition for Liverpool in just six appearances.

He should have enhanced that statistic shortly afterwards, with Origi showcasing stellar strength, speed and footwork to play in his partner. Sturridge had more time than he realised, and his rushed shot was easily swallowed by Vorm.

Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had little to do in comparison, but thwarted Vincent Janssen, before Lucas smothered an attempt from Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.

In the second half, Sturridge was once again supplied excellently by the Belgian, but he miskicked before Gini Wijnaldum was twice denied.

Origi, encouraged by chants of his name from the terraces, turned it on completely. His pressing, passing and decision-making drew approval from the home support as well as applause from Klopp.

It was no surprise that he contributed to Sturridge’s second of the night, with a turn and pass to Wijnaldum, who then set the forward off in a one-on-one situation he was never going to lose.

Spurs were handed encouragement with 15 minutes to play, with Lucas penalised for a foul on Erik Lamela. Janssen slotted in from the spot, and Pochettino’s charges pushed for a tense finale. But Liverpool still closed the game off in the ascendancy, with Sturridge denied by the bar and Vorm thwarting Danny Ings.

They have scored 10 goals in three games in the tournament, only conceding once. And the frightening aspect, as per Klopp’s assertion, is that Liverpool haven’t yet hit 100 per cent this season.

Source: Goal.com

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