Daniel Sturridge sent Liverpool into the League Cup quarter-finals and gave his manager a reminder of his talents with two clinical goals in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
The England striker has struggled to convince Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp this season, but he was a livewire all night at Anfield where his double put the hosts in charge before Vincent Janssen pulled a goal back with a penalty for the visitors.
Klopp's side are joined in the last eight by Arsenal, who eased past second-tier Reading 2-0 with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring twice, while Newcastle United romped to a 6-0 win over 10-man Preston North End and Hull City won 2-1 at Bristol City.
Leeds United beat Norwich City 3-2 on penalties, while the quarter-final lineup will be completed on Wednesday with three more ties including Manchester United hosting local rivals and holders City in the pick of the fourth round matches.
With no European football to occupy his squad this season, Liverpool manager Klopp raised a few eyebrows by making 11 changes to the side that beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Spurs, who are midway through a run of seven games in 23 days and have the Champions League to worry about, had more justification for retaining only Eric Dier from the side that drew 0-0 with Bournemouth at the weekend.
Liverpool, record eight times League Cup winners and last season's beaten finalists, were ahead after nine minutes when Sturridge, who has started just two of their last six games in all competitions, showed predatory instincts to poke home.
