The Tottenham midfielder played 83 minutes in the 2-1 League Cup defeat away to Liverpool.
Tottenham’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou in action with Liverpool’s Trent Arnold
Tottenham Hotspur winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou made his first start for the North Londoners away to Liverpool in the League Cup.
And although there were a couple of moments of excitement, the summer signing from Marseille would have been disappointed with the way the game went.
Nkoudou displayed some flashes of attacking threat as he used his pace to probe down the left hand side against rookie right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno in action with Tottenham’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou
However, the first moment of real note for the 21-year-old was a telling one and not at the right end. Nkoudou slipped as he tried to turn under pressure, with Liverpool coming away with the ball into the Spurs third. A shot slash cross from Marko Grujic rebounded into the path of Daniel Sturridge, who pushed it past Michel Vorm.
For much of the rest of the game the young Frenchman struggled to impact the game, in contrast with some of his impressive performances off the bench, and he was removed with only a handful of minutes left for Shayon Harrison.
As a right footed winger playing on the left wing, Nkoudou was eager to cut in at every opportunity and with the Liverpool defence sitting deep there was little space him to run into.
Liverpool’s Ragnar Klavan in action with Tottenham’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou
In fact, much of his work came in defensive situations, where the youngster demonstrated a willingness to track back that will have impressed his watching manager and the Spurs fans.
However, it is clear that the French Under-21 player is a raw player and needs time to come to terms with English football.
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