Tottenham to Rest Starters Against Liverpool In EFL Cup

On October 25, Liverpool will host Tottenham for the fourth round of the EFL Cup in a match up that will see one of the top clubs in the Premier League knocked out of the tournament. Though the Reds have been in top form of late, the contest will be a major test for them.

However, Liverpool have been boosted by news that Tottenham will not field a full strength side. Instead, manager Mauricio Pochettino claimed he'll play a team of youngsters at Anfield in order to keep starters fresh for other competitions.

"You know, always the big, big players start their career and they need to make their debut sometimes in a difficult place like Anfield," Pochettino said (via the Echo). "We are involved in Champions League and [the younger players] are not involved in European competition so it is a good opportunity for our players who do not play too much or the younger players to build their reputation and build their career and confidence for the future."

That's all nice and everything, but with Liverpool not involved in Europe, Klopp has played strong sides so far in the EFL Cup. While a similar starting eleven to the one that dismantled Derby County in the last round should still not underestimate a young Tottenham squad, it's difficult to not be hopeful about what this match up might look like, especially at Anfield.

Still, Pochettino insisted his team could compete with Liverpool even if it wasn't at full strength.

"For me, they are not kids or boys -- they are players," Pochettino said. "They can show and prove that they can compete and have the quality to stay in the first team It is the same to play against Gillingham at White Hart Lane and against Liverpool at Anfield."