On the face
of it this was going to be a stroll in the park with Derby suffering injuries
to key plays and playing with a lack of confidence and that is exactly what it
was with Klopp’s charges sauntering through the 90 minutes very much as they
liked.
Seven
changes from the team which overpowered Chelsea last Friday, with most interest
in former Mainz 05 keeper Larius Karius and Serbian International Marko
Grujić making their first team debuts.
Ovie Ejaria named on the bench for the second successive game would also
make his first team debut late on. Emre
Can made a welcome return to the match day squad on the bench.
Changes a plenty, but still enough talent on the pitch to
take no prisoners. Coutinho and Firmino
the creative influences in the team with Divock Origi ahead of them and
Henderson joined in the midfield engine room by Lucas as well as Grujic. While losing wouldn’t break our season,
progressing further certainly had its benefits to those on the fringes with the
offer of further games and the prospect of silverware could not be overlooked.
Liverpool started as if continuance of the feel good
factor from the Chelsea victory was the order of the day. A flashing volley by Henderson, full of
confidence after his spectacular winner in the same game, went just over. Firmino, looking to get in on the spectacular
goals act grazed the bar from fully 25 yards.
The control Liverpool had on the game was total with
Coutinho drifting anywhere and everywhere.
The dazzling playmaker was soon to play a part in the opening goal. His corner, whipped in from the left was
sliced by Keogh in an attempt at a clearance only for Klavan to turn the ball
home from close range for his first goal for Liverpool.
It was nothing more than we deserved and there was almost more
with Origi continuing Keogh’s nightmare turning him inside out before Mitchell
saved his blushes at his near post.
Matip could and should have made it two heading over from a corner.
Before the break drives from Origi and Henderson kept
Mitchell busy.
The only problem for Liverpool with our total dominance was
guarding against wavering concentration and a case in point with Henderson losing
possession to Johnson, who in turn put Bent on the chase. Karius, taking a higher starting position
than one is used to from Mignolet snuffed out the danger tearing out of his
area to clear.
If the Derby players received a flea in their ears from manager
Nigel Pearson, it was not outwardly visible even with former Red Tom Ince
entering the fray, as normal service was quickly resumed in the second-half.
Four minutes into the second-half Derby’s challenge was as
good as over. The goal made in Brazil
was majestic in its simplicity. Coutinho
picking the ball up 30 yards out played the ball into Firminho who returned the
compliment for the longest of one-twos as Liverpool’s number ten simply waltzed
into the area unchallenged as if dancing to the tune of Gilbeto Gil’s Toda
Menina Baiana before tucking the ball into the corner. So easy, but yet so smooth.
It was beginning to look like a training match with Derby
doing a passable imitation of Sony Liston against Muhammed Ali, unable to lay a
glove on Liverpool who guided by its Latino talents were certainly floating
away from challenges and stinging like a bee in the final third.
Coutinho again involved, found Origi running ahead of him
before the Belgian in a fashion similar to his opening goal in last season’s League
Cup tie against Southampton crashed the ball high into the net for his fourth
goal in his 6 League Cup starts.
Klopp seizing the opportunity replaced Henderson with Can
and almost immediately the substitute showed his quality finding Coutinho at
the back post to knock the ball down a cushioned volleyed pass into the path of
Firmino. Unbelievably from six yards Mitchell
pulled a remarkable one handed save to somehow project the ball over the
bar. It was Coutinho last meaningful
contribution before leaving the pitch to standing ovation to be replaced by
Danny Ings.
Karius, who hadn’t much to do for the most of the match
then fluffed his lines. Hurtling off his line the former German under-21
International got nowhere near an intended punch and was lucky to see Keogh’s
header fall wide of the post.
The game was tapering off as the intensity dissipated, as
such Klopp took the opportunity to blood young midfielder Ovie Ejaria. It was the last eventful moment of a very
comfortable evening that will hopefully set us up for the next game at home to
Hull.
Man
of the match:
Philippe Coutinho – Didn’t need to delve deep into his box of tricks,
but what he had on offer was easily too much for Derby. Was involved in all three goals. Instigated and finished Liverpool’s second
goal and his short pass to put Origi had the touch of a surgeon general about
it. The best player on the pitch closely
followed by Firmino.
The link play between the two is almost telepathic and it’s
very obvious they enjoy play together.
With Lallana and Mane available to play in the roles behind the striker,
Klopp has an abundance of riches.
Good to see Liverpool finally have a clean sheet, albeit
in a game where they were very rarely threatened. But, that was partly down to the fact we stymied
their ability to create in midfield with Henderson, Lucas and Grujic on cruise control
in central areas. Klopp touched on
Grujic’s game management and the player looks capable of developing into a
strong player as he possesses lovely touches and good positional sense.
Liverpool’s game against Hull which they are expected to
win is important for impetus sake and this victory will only help to build confidence
and competition for places.
Team:
Derby
- 35 Jonathan Mitchell, 2 Cyrus Christie,
6 Richard Keogh, 16 Ales Pearce, 29, Marcus Olsson, 12 Chris Baird, 18 Jacob
Butterfield, 19 Will Hughes, 24 Andreas Weimann, 11 Darren Bent
Subs:
32 Chris Weale, 10 Tom Ince, 20 Abdoul Camera, 22 Nick Blackman, 25 Max Love,
30 Tim Max Elsnik, 31 Farrend Rawson
Liverpool
– 1 Loris Karius, 2 Nathaniel Clyne, 32 Joel Matip, 17
Ragnar Klavan, 18 Albert Moreno, 14 Jordan Henderson, 10 Philippe Coutinho, 21
Lucas Leiva, 11 Roberto Firmino, 27 Divock Origi, 16 Marko Grujic
Subs:
6 Dejan Lovren, 7 James Milner, 19 Sadio Mane, 22 Simon Mignolet, 23 Emre Can,
28 Danny Ings, 53 Oviemuno Ejaria
Referee:
Graham Scott
Attendance:
26,245
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