JÜRGEN Klopp was happy with his side’s professional performance that saw Derby County easily swatted aside by three goals to nil, and secured the Reds a place in the last 16 of the League Cup.

Ragnar Klavan’s first goal for the club was followed by second half strikes from Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi as The Rams proved no match for Klopp’s free-scoring side.

The manager said: “We were better tonight and we deserved to win, we created plenty of chances. Could we have done better? Yes, but is that important? No.

“You need to be 100 percent professional in games like this, which could be difficult, but we were ready for every opportunity.

“We could’ve been better in the first half with the last pass and in the second with our counter attack but we will take 3-0 all day.”

Despite Klopp’s insistence that his side could have done certain things better, there was no doubt that he was pleased with the way his side, which saw seven changes from the victory over Chelsea, approached the game and dominated from start to finish.

“The pleasing thing is it’s not we are surprised by it. I have always thought the difference between home and away shouldn’t be that big when you’re a good side, which we are,” he added.

“That’s what we expect from us. Tonight was very professional from us.

“This is a very important tournament for us, for the players, and we have to show it from the first second. Let’s go for it.”

Klopp did become involved in a heated discussion with the fourth official during the game after seeing a number of heavy-handed challenges on Coutinho, but the German was quick to play down the confrontation after the game.

He said: “It is so close when someone flies in three or four times like they did, and I said to the fourth official ‘Please tell him’.
“He didn’t hit the player, I saw that, but it was so close. But that’s my problem how I reacted and nothing happened.”

Liverpool were losing finalists against Manchester City in the same competition last season and Klopp is keen for a return to Wembley — and, hopefully, a more positive result this time around.

He said “This is a very important tournament for us, for the players, and we have to show it from the first second. Let’s go for it.”