Liverpool were comfortable 3-0 winners in their EFL Cup tie against Derby County.
Liverpool breezed into the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a 3-0 win over Derby County at the iPro Stadium courtesy of goals from Ragnar Klavan, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi.
The Reds made seven changes to the side that won at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Friday night as they made light work of Nigel Pearson’s struggling Championship side.
There were plenty of reasons to be positive last night as other members of the squad got some minutes under their belt and an avenue to silverware remains open.
In games that are so one sided when one team is unable to break sweat, it can be hard to learn anything about them, but here are five things that may have been noticed last night.
Liverpool are able to go through the gears to finish a game off
With the game at 1-0 at half-time, Liverpool just needed to kill the game off. Their spell in the second half did just that with some neat interchanging as Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi found the net to ensure the game was finished off by the hour mark – allowing Jürgen Klopp to save some of his bigger hitters for the weekend’s home game against Hull City.
Promising youngsters are emerging
It was a good time to bed in some of the younger players. Marko Grujic was able to get his first start of his Liverpool career, and get 90 minutes under his belt. He was keen to impress – at times a bit too keen – but showed some of the flashes that persuaded Klopp to invest in him. Ovie Ejaria was also given his first-team bow, and one doubts this will be the last time younger players will be given their opportunity under the current management.
A goalkeeper that looks very comfortable on the ball – and off his line
It would be a lie to say that everything was perfect about Loris Karius’s full Liverpool debut but he will not face many easier outings.
There may have been one cross where he did not look great, and one or two long kicks which were not perfect but it is hard not to notice how comfortable he looks with the ball at his feet, that he can keep things ticking over from the back and is not afraid to come off his line, notably to defuse a potential opening for Darren Bent in the first half.
It’s not all about Mane
It must have been a relief for Liverpool that they could rest their most expensive signing from the summer and still manage to get the job done. Such is the impact he has had at the start of this season, some were suggesting he was their most important player.
However, the trio of Divock Origi, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino worked effectively and provided some excellent movement in spells. As long as Liverpool’s front trio have pace, intelligence and tenacity along with end product regardless of the personnel, it should work fine. Again, there will be tougher tests without him.
Different roles for certain players this season?
It was interesting to see Emre Can make his return from injury by playing in a more advanced role than many are accustomed to seeing him in when he was introduced into the action. If Liverpool are operating as a midfield three, one would expect the German to be the deeper of the trio, but considering Jordan Henderson has been given that role in the Premier League at the start of the season, Can may have to get used to a role a little further forward this term if he wants to get into the side – much like the one played in his cameo last night.
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