Georginio Wijnaldum has called on his Liverpool teammates to put the disappointment of defeat by Burnley behind them in Tuesday’s League Cup tie at second-tier Burton Albion.
Liverpool started the Premier League season in enterprising fashion with a thrilling 4-3 win at Arsenal, only to lose 2-0 at promoted Burnley on Saturday despite enjoying over 80 per cent of possession.
Jurgen Klopp’s side reached last season’s League Cup final, losing on penalties to Manchester City, and Wijnaldum hopes they can use their first game in this season’s competition to get back on track.
"We made two mistakes and they scored two goals and we didn't create any big chances. That was the story in the first half," the former Newcastle United midfielder told the Liverpool website after the game at Burnley.
“We expected to create better chances than we did. Sometimes you have the kind of games that it doesn’t work and you have to keep your confidence and look forward.
“We must move on to the next game, not make the same mistakes we made (against Burnley) and look forward with confidence.”
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Tuesday’s game at the Pirelli Stadium will carry special meaning for Burton manager Nigel Clough, who spent three years at Liverpool as a player in the mid-1990s.
Clough, son of legendary former Nottingham Forest manager Brian, returned to Burton for a second spell last year, having previously spent nine years at the club between 1998 and 2009.
Burton memorably held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup in January 2006, but whereas they were then a non-league team, they are now just one division below the Premier League.
Liverpool are entering the League Cup in the second round due to their failure to qualify for European competition.
Chelsea are in the same boat and begin their assault on a competition they last won in 2015 with a home game against third-division Bristol Rovers.
Chelsea have won both their opening league games courtesy of late goals from Diego Costa, and winger Eden Hazard believes the manner of their victories is testament to the effect of new manager Antonio Conte.
"The attitude is fantastic. Even in training, everyone wants to win games. That's why now we are winning," Hazard told the Chelsea website after Saturday's 2-1 win at Watford.
“He’s a good manager. He believes in his team and we try to give everything for him. We want to win for the fans too.”
Other Premier League teams in League Cup action this week include Everton, Crystal Palace, last season’s FA Cup runners-up, and Hull City, the top flight’s surprise joint-leaders.
Manchester United, holders Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and West Ham United will all enter the competition in round three.
League Cup fixtures
All matches at 10.45pm UAE (GST) unless otherwise stated)
Tuesday
• Crystal Palace v Blackpool (10.30pm), Blackburn v Crewe, Burton v Liverpool, Chelsea v Bristol Rovers, Derby v Carlisle, Everton v Yeovil, Exeter v Hull, Luton v Leeds, Millwall v Nottingham Forest, Newcastle v Cheltenham, Northampton v West Brom, Norwich v Coventry, Oxford v Brighton, Peterborough v Swansea, Queens Park Rangers v Rochdale, Scunthorpe v Bristol City, Stevenage v Stoke City, Watford v Gillingham, Wolves v Cambridge, Reading v MK Dons (11pm)
Wednesday
• Accrington v Burnley, Fulham v Middlesbrough, Morecambe v AFC Bournemouth, Preston v Oldham, Sunderland v Shrewsbury
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