LIVERPOOL, England -- Jurgen Klopp insists he has never doubted the talents of Daniel Sturridge after the striker's goals helped Liverpool reach the quarterfinals of the EFL Cup.
Sturridge has found himself on the substitutes' bench in recent weeks in the Premier League, but was given a start in the League Cup fourth-round tie with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Tuesday night.
The England international fully grasped the opportunity as he scored both of Liverpool's goals in the 2-1 win.
The potent frontman broke the deadlock in the ninth minute when he poked in Marko Grujic's deflected shot. He then grabbed his second of the night shortly after the hour mark when he calmly converted Georginio Wijnaldum's through ball to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
Spurs pulled one back in the 76th minute through Vincent Janssen from the penalty spot after Lucas Leiva upended substitute Erik Lamela in the penalty area, but the Reds held on to ensure their name was in the draw for the last eight.
"That's his potential, talent. That's his strength," Klopp told a news conference when asked about Sturridge's performance. "He's a finisher, a really good striker -- no doubt about this.
"I was never in doubt about him even when he didn't score. It's not a question. We don't have to discuss about quality or something.
"Divock Origi didn't score tonight but I think he played quite well. Danny Ings when he came in didn't score but he played really well when he came in.
"That's the thing, Daniel [scored] wonderful goals for us -- really important. I would say in the right moments he could have scored three or four. It was really good."
Klopp made 11 changes to the side that started in Saturday's victory over West Bromwich Albion and handed 18-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold his first-team debut, along with starts for promising youngsters Ovie Ejaria and Marko Grujic.
The Reds boss hailed the contributions of the young players and revealed there is plenty more to come from the ranks at Liverpool's Kirkby academy.
"I thought before the game that it could work with them in the team," Klopp said of the youngsters. "If everything would not have worked tonight, it's my responsibility and you can blame me because I made the lineup.
"Everything that's positive is absolutely for the players because it was a difficult challenge with 11 changes.
"We had an idea before the game on what we could have done and the medical department said: 'One or two players have a problem here or there.'
"It was really good to see. Ovie did a brilliant job -- he worked so hard and had cramps, like Trent. Marko Grujic in the No. 10 role is not his perfect position. How I say, the 10 is not always an offensive position -- it's to run for the team and he had to run a lot."
Klopp added: "I made the lineup and then I saw it on the paper and I thought: 'Still really good.'
"Of course we are really happy about the players we have. There are a few more to come, a little bit younger than the guys who made their debut tonight -- Under-18s, U23s and even U15s already.
"After tonight we should not talk about it too much because [it's] back in the academy, train hard and come again when there's a game when we need you.
"That's how it is and there are a few of them with us everyday. That's good. It helps them and all the others are in the academy, and when they are ready they can make the next step."