Unhappy Rafael Benitez bemoaned the “very poor” defending that ensured a Carling Cup hammering for Liverpool.
The Anfield outfit conceded three goals in seven minutes before half-time before ultimately crashing to a 4-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in their fourth round tie.
A Roman Pavlyuchenko strike and two from Fraizer Campbell sent the Londoners on their way to inflicting a second loss on Benitez’s side in 11 days, following their earlier 2-1 Premier League triumph at White Hart Lane.
Pavlyuchenko scored another after the interval to leave goals from Damien Plessis – the first of his Anfield career – and Sami Hyypia as mere consolation for the visitors.
And a hugely disappointed Benitez admitted a woeful first-half display had cost his much-changed team.
“It was very unlike us,” said the Liverpool manager. “We were very poor in the last minutes of the first half.
“If you make one mistake and concede then you can change things around in the second half, but to concede three goals in a couple of minutes meant it was difficult for us to change anything.
“In the Premier League game here we played really well, but tonight we played really badly in the first half.
“In the second half, the commitment and effort from the players was much better and we scored two goals and had other opportunities, but we were always chasing the game and leaving ourselves open to a good counter-attacking side.
“We needed to play well, and instead we played badly and made some bad mistakes in defence.”
Benitez made 10 changes from the team that beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at the weekend, with Daniel Agger the only survivor.
Along with Plessis, youngsters David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar were handed starts while Philipp Degen and Diego Cavalieri made only their second appearances since their summer arrivals.
Reserve team captain Stephen Darby made his debut as a late substitute for Degen.
But Benitez defended his selection policy for the Carling Cup, and said: “You have to use the whole squad in this competition as you cannot have players playing in every game, especially when you are playing twice a week.
“Some need to rest and you need to use the squad. Many of the players we brought in tonight are internationals and have quality. But it’s clear they didn’t play well as a team.
“I’m not picking on any individuals. The youngsters would have been better had some of the more senior players done well. But they will get more experience from nights like this.”
Benitez added: “If the team goes to Bolton and wins then we will still be at the top of the table and people will talk about us doing well and the Premier League being our priority.
“But I am disappointed because I want to win every gamer. We came here with a lot of players with quality for winning.”
Fernando Torres, who made his first start since his hamstring injury last month, was substituted after 56 minutes with Benitez admitting he was nursing the striker back to full fitness.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said: “If you’re in it, you want to win it.
“I’ve sensed a strong desire that they want to win every game.”
Of Campbell who netted twice, his first goals since arriving from Manchester United on loan, Redknapp said: “You can see why Sir Alex Ferguson turned down £7million for him from Hull.”
The result maintains Redknapp’s unbeaten record and he joked: “I should get out now, I’ve taken them as far as I can.
“It’s been a terrific start but you know you’ll have ups and downs.
“Saturday is a massive game against Fulham, there are 14 teams scrapping away and can be in trouble.”
Heurelho Gomes was carried off on a stretcher after taking a blow to the head but the injury was not serious – and there were still smiles in the dressing room afterwards.
“They are all enjoying it, when you are winning its easy,” Redknapp said. “That is why we want to keep this run going.”
The Anfield outfit conceded three goals in seven minutes before half-time before ultimately crashing to a 4-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in their fourth round tie.
A Roman Pavlyuchenko strike and two from Fraizer Campbell sent the Londoners on their way to inflicting a second loss on Benitez’s side in 11 days, following their earlier 2-1 Premier League triumph at White Hart Lane.
Pavlyuchenko scored another after the interval to leave goals from Damien Plessis – the first of his Anfield career – and Sami Hyypia as mere consolation for the visitors.
And a hugely disappointed Benitez admitted a woeful first-half display had cost his much-changed team.
“It was very unlike us,” said the Liverpool manager. “We were very poor in the last minutes of the first half.
“If you make one mistake and concede then you can change things around in the second half, but to concede three goals in a couple of minutes meant it was difficult for us to change anything.
“In the Premier League game here we played really well, but tonight we played really badly in the first half.
“In the second half, the commitment and effort from the players was much better and we scored two goals and had other opportunities, but we were always chasing the game and leaving ourselves open to a good counter-attacking side.
“We needed to play well, and instead we played badly and made some bad mistakes in defence.”
Benitez made 10 changes from the team that beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at the weekend, with Daniel Agger the only survivor.
Along with Plessis, youngsters David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar were handed starts while Philipp Degen and Diego Cavalieri made only their second appearances since their summer arrivals.
Reserve team captain Stephen Darby made his debut as a late substitute for Degen.
But Benitez defended his selection policy for the Carling Cup, and said: “You have to use the whole squad in this competition as you cannot have players playing in every game, especially when you are playing twice a week.
“Some need to rest and you need to use the squad. Many of the players we brought in tonight are internationals and have quality. But it’s clear they didn’t play well as a team.
“I’m not picking on any individuals. The youngsters would have been better had some of the more senior players done well. But they will get more experience from nights like this.”
Benitez added: “If the team goes to Bolton and wins then we will still be at the top of the table and people will talk about us doing well and the Premier League being our priority.
“But I am disappointed because I want to win every gamer. We came here with a lot of players with quality for winning.”
Fernando Torres, who made his first start since his hamstring injury last month, was substituted after 56 minutes with Benitez admitting he was nursing the striker back to full fitness.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said: “If you’re in it, you want to win it.
“I’ve sensed a strong desire that they want to win every game.”
Of Campbell who netted twice, his first goals since arriving from Manchester United on loan, Redknapp said: “You can see why Sir Alex Ferguson turned down £7million for him from Hull.”
The result maintains Redknapp’s unbeaten record and he joked: “I should get out now, I’ve taken them as far as I can.
“It’s been a terrific start but you know you’ll have ups and downs.
“Saturday is a massive game against Fulham, there are 14 teams scrapping away and can be in trouble.”
Heurelho Gomes was carried off on a stretcher after taking a blow to the head but the injury was not serious – and there were still smiles in the dressing room afterwards.
“They are all enjoying it, when you are winning its easy,” Redknapp said. “That is why we want to keep this run going.”
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