Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp will have been impressed by the youthful potential on show at Anfield as Liverpool beat Derby County in the Carabao Cup.

All in all, then, a good night’s work and an enjoyable one for supporters, despite the lack of goals. The Spaniard’s effort was saved by Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, but there was enough in his performance, as a holding midfielder, to show why assistant manager Pep Lijnders described him as “a present from the academy” at his pre-match press conference. Liverpool hope the 19-year-old can provide both competition and cover for Alexander-Arnold at right-back, and this was a good start in that regard. He completed more passes (105) than anyone else on the field, and his 94 percent accuracy was bettered only by Kelleher, among those who started the game. [Their Carabao Cup journey last season ended with a penalty shootout,](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/liverpool-quadruple-bid-perfect-start-carabao-cup-victory/blt0235b084005b3574) and so it was perhaps inevitable that their defence of the trophy this term would start in the same fashion. That’s his game, dribbling, and he showcased it perfectly here, giving Louie Sibley, Derby’s left wing-back, nightmares with his ability to skip past on the outside.