LIVERPOOL -- Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was disappointed with Liverpool's goals in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth-round but he says Reds' debutant Trent Alexander-Arnold was lucky to avoid a red card.
Daniel Sturridge scored in either half to extend Liverpool's unbeaten run to ten matches and leave Spurs without a win in four games since the dominant 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
The England striker, an unused substitute at the weekend, reacted quickest to prod past Michel Vorm after less than 10 minutes before he beat the offside trap and finished cooly. Vincent Janssen score a late penalty for Spurs after Erik Lamela was fouled.
"They were clinical," Pochettino told a news conference. "They had chances in the second half, Michel Vorm was fantastic. But for both goals we should do better. In the end it's important to be positive. We tried to play, tried to fight. Liverpool is a very good team, they have one of the best squads in Premier League, in England."
Alexander-Arnold, 18, was one of 13 players to start the match aged under-23, but Pochettino felt he was lucky to remain on the pitch after being booked for a dangerous tackle on Ben Davies.
Asked if he should have been sent off, the Argentine said: "Yes. It's a little bit strange when the [Liverpool] bench complained about us to the referee for two actions, when in the first half their full-back Arnold should have been sent off for the big tackle against Ben Davies.
"For that, it's very strange that their bench started to complain. They should stay calm. The referee had the authority to say if it was or wasn't a penalty. They complained about one action which was a normal foul at the end of the game.
"I'm disappointed because the effort was fantastic from my team," he added. "We fought, we played, we tried to go to the next round but it was difficult. I feel proud because the effort was fantastic. There's a lot of positives to take form that game. We're still improving.
"It was important for our future to build a better squad and our project is completely different to Liverpool. Today was a fantastic opportunity to show their quality and for that was a great experience we need to capitalise and take positives things for the future."
U.S. youth international Cameron Carter-Vickers, 18, made his second start for Spurs at centre-half and Pochettino was impressed with the teenager.
"I am very pleased for him. My analysis is that he played very well. He's 18 and a very good prospect for us for the future. He has very good potential. He was very calm.
"But not only him but all the team, all the younger players. Harry Winks, Joshua Onomah, Shayon Harrison -- who had a great opportunity to score for 2-2. It's important to give them an opportunity to show their talent. I'm disappointed for the result but I can take a lot of positives for the future."