Tottenham analysis: Mauricio Pochettino pays heavy price for rotation as Daniel Sturridge punishes Spurs

Daniel Sturridge struck twice at Anfield to see off Tottenham and send Liverpool into the fifth round of the EFL Cup.

The England striker has now scored eight times in six Reds appearances in the competition, netting in each half to remind a seemingly sceptical Jurgen Klopp of his prowess.

Sturridge was one of the most senior players on show amid much rotation and his goals were enough to settle matters on Merseyside, despite Vincent Janssen's 76th-minute penalty bringing late tension and a flattering 2-1 scoreline.

Standard Sport's Tom Collomosse assesses the key talking points...

Why not mix and match?

Tottenham started the season involved in four competitions. At some stage, rotation would be a necessity.

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It was a surprise, though, to see Mauricio Pochettino make so many changes to his starting XI, with Eric Dier the only survivor from the team that began the 0-0 draw at Bournemouth last weekend.

Surely players like Harry Winks, Josh Onomah and Cameron Carter-Vickers would have benefited from the inclusion of one or two first-team regulars. Jan Vertonghen, Victor Wanyama and Erik Lamela perhaps could have been named in the side, rather than on the bench.

The Pau Lopez conundrum

The Spanish goalkeeper joined from Espanyol late in the transfer window and, on the face of it, appears a very odd signing. In Hugo Lloris, Tottenham have one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

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In Michel Vorm, Lloris has a very able deputy, who was his team’s best player at Anfield. For the second match running against Liverpool, Vorm made a series of outstanding saves to ensure the scoreline remained respectable – as Lopez watched from the bench.

With a second-choice goalkeeper who would be No.1 at most Premier League sides, why exactly did Spurs need Lopez?

What has happened to Wimmer?

Last season, Kevin Wimmer stepped in for the injured Jan Vertonghen in January and did a solid job as his deputy. Since then, the Austrian has fallen out of Pochettino’s favour – and his performance here showed why.

Wimmer looked heavy and rusty, and was given a chasing by Divock Origi. It is thought Pochettino was, for a time, prepared to let Wimmer go in the summer transfer window, only to have a change of heart.

Wimmer’s display will have done little to impress his manager and it appears unlikely he will have a fruitful career at Spurs.

Liverpool are in ominous form

This was Tottenham’s worst performance of the campaign, but they came up against a Liverpool side who have enviable options. Jurgen Klopp made 11 changes from the team who defeated West Brom at the weekend, but still his side looked powerful.

(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Daniel Sturridge scored twice and could have had many more. Origi tormented Tottenham’s back four.

Young right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold looked remarkably assured on his senior debut, and Marko Grujic was constantly creative in the first half. With no European football to worry about, Liverpool will surely win a trophy this season.

Winks looks the part

After a quiet start to the game, Harry Winks improved steadily throughout and by the closing stages, he was one of Tottenham’s most influential players.

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Playing alongside first Eric Dier and then Victor Wanyama in deep midfield, the 20-year-old gradually found his passing range and started to find gaps in the Liverpool defence.

Vincent Janssen’s penalty gave Tottenham a lease of life and they had chances to equalise after it – thanks in no small part to Winks’ intelligence on the ball.

Breaking into the first team is a very difficult task but Winks has done his chances no harm – though he may have to rein in some of his more eager challenges.