DERBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 20, 2016: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia scores the second goal against Derby County during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match at Pride Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Derby 0-3 Liverpool: Comfortable League Cup victory for Reds at Pride Park

One goal and two assists from Philippe Coutinho fuelled Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Derby County in the third round of the League Cup.

Derby County 0-3 Liverpool

League Cup Third Round, Pride Park
September 20, 2016

Goals

Klavan 24′ (assist: Coutinho – corner)
Coutinho 50′ (assist: Firmino)
Origi 54′ (assist: Coutinho)

Taking to Pride Park for their third-round clash with Derby on Tuesday night, Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool lined up against Championship opposition for the second time this season.

After making just four changes for the Reds’ second-round victory over Burton Albion, however, the German employed heavy rotation, with seven changes including a debut for goalkeeper Loris Karius and a first start for fellow arrival Marko Grujic.

Coutinho and Roberto Firmino were among the key names to be included, however, with Klopp keen to secure victory as Liverpool push for a second successive League Cup final.

Taking on a Rams side in poor form and markedly shy in front of goal, Klopp’s side will have been confident heading into the clash, and this proved to be well placed as they emerged victorious in Derbyshire.

DERBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 20, 2016: Liverpool's goalkeeper Loris Karius in action against Derby County during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match at Pride Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

  • Klavan scores first Liverpool goal for opener
  • Grujic impresses on maiden start for the Reds
  • Coutinho hits second and lays on two assists
  • Karius and Ejaria debut, Ings makes first appearance of the season

Dominating from the first whistle, the Reds looked to overwhelm a shaky Derby defence, with Firmino taking up his position on the left, with Coutinho on the right.

It was Coutinho’s right-footed delivery, from a corner, that led to Liverpool’s opener, with Ragnar Klavan hooking home following a poor attempted clearance from Richard Keogh, finding the back of the net through a deflection from Cyrus Christie.

Divock Origi, leading the line in his second start of the season, came close on a number of occasions, most prominently after twisting into space in the box, but his left-footed shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell.

Coutinho saw his late free-kick soar just over the bar minutes before half-time, as Klopp’s side looked to add a flourish to what was a controlled first-half display.

Karius, who enjoyed a relatively quiet first half, was called upon just before the break following a poor pass from Jordan Henderson, storming off his line to deny an onrushing Darren Bent, preserving the Reds’ 1-0 lead.

DERBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 20, 2016: Liverpool's Ragnar Klavan celebrates scoring the first goal against Derby County during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match at Pride Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Picking up where they left off after the interval, it took Liverpool just over four minutes to notch their second of the night, with Coutinho interchanging excellently with his compatriot Firmino before passing the ball home.

Both Coutinho and Firmino were in inspired form throughout, and four minutes later the Reds had their third of the night, this time with the former laying it through for Origi to rifle into the top corner.

Firmino almost added a fourth on the hour mark, but Mitchell was on hand to make a strong save, before Klopp withdrew Coutinho to a standing ovation, allowing Danny Ings his first outing of the season.

Klopp later gave academy midfielder Ovie Ejaria his first-team debut, with the teenager replacing Firmino late into the second half, highlighting the Reds’ dominance.

Despite continuing to control the game, Liverpool failed to test Mitchell any further, instead playing it out to a comfortable win—and the fourth round awaits.


TIA Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 26,245

Derby County: Mitchell; Christie, Keogh, Pearce, Olsson (Lowe 64′); Baird (Ince 46′), Johnson, Butterfield, Hughes; Weimann (Elsnik 56′), Bent

Subs not used: Weale, Camara, Blackman, Rawson

Liverpool: Karius; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Lucas, Grujic, Henderson (Can 56′); Coutinho (Ings 63′), Firmino (Ejaria 77′), Origi

Subs not used: Mignolet, Lovren, Milner, Mane

Next Match: Hull City (H) – Premier League – September 24

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