Derby County vs. Liverpool: Score, Reaction from 2016 EFL Cup 3rd-Round Match

Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round of the 2016-17 EFL Cup on Tuesday evening after goals from Ragnar Klavan, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi saw them through to a 3-0 win over Derby County.

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in at the break following Klavan’s first-half header, but a smash-and-grab double early in the second period left their hosts dazed and confused.

Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne were the only players retained by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp from Friday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, with a much-changed lineup at the iPro Stadium.

Merseysiders will surely whisper it, but Tuesday’s result continued a positive start to the season for Liverpool, evidenced by OptaJoe:

19 – Liverpool have netted 19 goals in their first seven games this season compared to five in the first seven of 15/16. Progress.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 20, 2016

Liverpool took an early grip on possession in their away journey, and the difference in class between the Premier League team and their Championship hosts soon appeared to set in.

Henderson took on the role of chief puppeteer in the Reds midfield, while Marko Grujic took some delight in hounding the Rams engine room whenever out of possession.

Chances were few and far between for Derby over the first 20 minutes, while it seemed only a matter of time until the Merseysiders would find their breakthrough.

And find it they did in the 24th minute, when centre-back Klavan made the most of his time spent up for Coutinho’s corner, and Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby noted the boosting impact his first goal for the club could yield:

Nice moment for Ragnar Klavan, big confidence booster that.

— Jack Lusby (@jacklusby_) September 20, 2016

Roberto Firmino was back in the Reds XI after sitting out Friday’s win over Chelsea through …

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