Sturridge and Oxlade-Chamberlain both score twice while Hull City hold on in an entertaining night of EFL Cup action, offering us valuable clues on the Gameweek 10 teamsheets. Here’s how three Premier League teams booked their quarter-final spots.
Liverpool 2 Tottenham 1
After using no out-and-out strikers for much of the campaign, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp went with two against Spurs, and Daniel Sturridge (9.9) took the chance to double his goalscoring returns for the season, with all four of his strikes coming in the EFL Cup.
The England international scored either side of the break, from assists by Marko Grujic (4.5) and Georginio Wijnaldum (7.6). Spurs rallied late on after Vincent Janssen (7.8) converted a penalty following a Lucas (4.4) foul on substitute Erik Lamela (6.8), but the Reds were good value for the win.
Klopp made 11 changes to his weekend team, Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for 10, and in many ways the match mirrored Liverpool’s win over West Brom. They dominated, went 2-0 up, failed to kill their opponents off and had to endure a nervy end to proceedings after conceding against the run of play.
With Divock Origi (6.6) also starting and Danny Ings (5.5) given a run-out when the young Belgian was beset by cramp, it afforded Anfield a rare sighting of all three Liverpool strikers in action.
Klopp’s post-match praise for Sturridge, however, was notable for its absence of any suggestion that the forward was much closer to a regular starting berth in the league.
“That’s his talent, that’s his strength. He’s 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. That’s not in question.”
Despite his goals, then, Sturridge will surely be handed a bench role for the visit to Crystal Palace at the weekend, with Klopp again opting to start Roberto Firmino in the central attacking role. Wijnaldum got 90 minutes and is now in a position to push Emre Can for his start but, again, Klopp would seem likely to stick the side that won the points against West Brom last time out.
As for Spurs, Pochettino’s decision to start with Trippier and Davies would suggest that both Kyle Walker and Danny Rose will line up for the visit of Leicester City in Gameweek 10. Janssen’s start last night would also hint that Son Heung-min (7.7) will be given another opportunity to lead the attack, despite being replaced on the hour mark after a disappointing display against Bournemouth.
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold (Clyne 68), Lucas, Klavan, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Stewart, Ejaria, Grujic (Can 89), Sturridge, Origi (Ings 68).
Subs not used: Karius, Lovren, Mane, Lallana.
Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Davies, Dier (Wanyama 67), Winks, Onomah, Carroll (Lamela 61), Nkoudou (Harrison 84), Janssen.
Subs not used: Vertonghen, Lopez-Sabata, Walkes, Amos.
Arsenal 2 Reading 0
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s (5.8) brace confirmed Arsenal’s superiority over their spirited Championship opponents.
The midfielder scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season – already his best-ever return for the Gunners before October is even complete. He took advantage of a Reading mistake to open the scoring after 33 minutes and sealed the deal in the second-half from an assist by substitute Olivier Giroud (8.8).
The return to action of the French striker, who has been restricted by injuries to just 54 minutes in the league this season, was a boost to coach Arsene Wenger’s forward options. Less pleasing was the performance of fellow striker Lucas Perez (7.9), who looked lacklustre before being replaced by Giroud.
Wenger’s defensive depth was also strengthened by Carl Jenkinson’s (5.0) first start following a nine-month knee injury lay-off. With Mathieu Debuchy (4.7) out of favour, Jenkinson is likely to provide much-needed cover for Hector Bellerin (6.6) at right back.
But the night belonged to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who received lavish post-match praise from Wenger.
“He’s powerful but he also finishes well and he’s added that to his game. That’s certainly linked with confidence, hard work in training, and he looks to be following Theo Walcott in that way. He’s not a long way away from the starting XI…I feel that he is regularly involved.”
The 23-year-old does, however, face a difficult task finding his way into the Arsenal starting XI given that Wenger will also have to accommodate the talents of Aaron Ramsey. In addition, with Giroud and Perez pushing for a central attacking role, Alexis Sanchez may eventually be considered for a shift back to the flank, further reducing Oxlade-Chamberlain’s opportunities.
Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi’s 90 minutes is a little troubling – he has started the last five Premier League outings, which may suggest that his role could be under threat for the visit to Sunderland this weekend.
Arsenal XI: Martinez, Jenkinson, Gabriel, Holding, Gibbs, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Zelalem 80), Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide (Giroud 66), Perez (Willock 72).
Subs not used: Macey, Bielik, Bola, Sheaf.
Bristol City 1 Hull City 2
Hull City avoided a fifth straight defeat by the skin of their teeth in a nervy win over Championship opponents.
Record signing Ryan Mason’s (4.9) set-play deliveries proved to be the difference, with two of his corners headed home by Harry Maguire (4.4) and then Michael Dawson (4.4).
But the Tigers were out-shot 19-11 by their hosts, and only a last-gasp clearance on the line saved Hull from extra-time in a thrilling finale.
Boss Mike Phelan went with a 3-5-2 system and made six changes to his team, including starts for left wing-back Josh Tymon (4.0) and strikers Abel Hernandez (6.0) and Adama Diomande (4.6).
Leading FPL points-scorer Robert Snodgrass (5.7) didn’t travel as he faces up to four weeks out with an ankle injury.
The result was welcome, but the performance doesn’t augur well as Hull face up to a trip to a newly-resolute Watford and then a home match with the in-form Southampton ahead of the November international break.
Hull XI: Jakupovic, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Elmohamady, Livermore, Mason (Huddlestone 79), Tymon, Henriksen, Diomande, Hernandez (Meyler 89).
Subs not used: Kuciak, Clucas, Maloney, Weir, Bowen.
