Liverpool learnt their first opponents in this year’s Carabao Cup last night, as they attempt to defend their title.
The draw was relatively kind to Liverpool, with League One side Derby County set to travel to Anfield in early November.
It’ll be the first time the two sides have met since the same round of the same competition in September 2016. Liverpool comfortably won that game 3-0 to progress to the fourth round.
Surprisingly, three of Liverpool’s last XI against Derby are actually still with the club. Here’s a look back at the team that lined up for them on that Tuesday evening six years ago.
New centre-back pairing and midfield stalwarts
In goal for Liverpool was the recently signed Loris Karius. The German goalkeeper was trying to establish himself after a wrist injury had kept him out of the start of the season. There was a clean sheet here, but darker days lay ahead.
At right-back, the ever-reliable Nathaniel Clyne started, with Alberto Moreno playing on the opposite flank.
In a strong looking Liverpool defence, Joel Matip began alongside Ragnar Klavan. Both players were just two months into their Reds’ careers but already looked like good signings. Klavan even got the first goal of the game. One of only two he scored for the club.
Lining up in a familiar 4-3-3 formation, Liverpool could count on two stalwarts in the middle of the pitch.
Lucas Leiva was entering what would be the last of his 10 seasons at the club. No longer a guaranteed starter, he was the old man in a midfield which contained 20-year-old Marko Gruijc and 26-year-old Jordan Henderson.
Klopp’s strong selection pays off
Up-front Jurgen Klopp also went surprisingly strong. These were days before Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but Roberto Firmino was still an important player and he started at Pride Park.
Alongside him was undoubtedly Liverpool’s best player at the time – Philippe Coutinho.
Coutinho’s quality paid early in the second-half as the two Brazilians linked-up. Latching onto a clever through-ball from Firmino, the Barcelona-bound no.10 slotted a finish past Jonathan Mitchell.
Completing the forward line and completing the scoring was Divock Origi. It was a belter from the Belgian as well. Running into the area from the right-hand side, he smashed a first-time shot into the roof of the net at the near post.
So there you have it. Off the bench came three more blasts from the past – Emre Can, Danny Ings and Ovie Ejaria.
Much has changed in the intervening six years, for both Liverpool and Derby. As they prepare to face each other again, we can expect the line-ups on show over Bonfire weekend to be almost un-recognisable.
Liverpool’s XI vs Derby September 20th 2016: Karius; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Lucas, Henderson, Grujic; Origi Firmino, Coutinho
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