Arsenal, Liverpool through to League Cup quarterfinals

TIL Desk Sports/ Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both scored twice as the experienced players secured passage for their youthful teams into the quarterfinals of the League Cup. Sturridge, who has failed to score in seven Premier League matches this season, has only found joy in front of goal in England’s second-tier knockout competition when top-flight typically deploy weaker teams.

Sturridge’s double eliminated Tottenham with a 2-1 victory at Anfield, his first Liverpool goals since also netting twice in the League Cup in August. After firing into the roof of the net from Marko Grujic’s cross in the ninth minute, the England striker tucked the ball under Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm in the second half. Vincent Janssen pulled one back from the penalty spot but Tottenham couldn’t force extra time against its Premier League title rival.

It was a smoother night for Arsenal against Reading, despite only beating the second-tier League Championship club 2-0. Oxlade-Chamberlain poked the ball through defender Tyler Blackett’s legs into the corner of the net to put Arsenal ahead in the 33rd minute. A deflected shot from the England international doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 78th.