Capital One Cup: Klopp searches for first win as Bournemouth come to town

United, City look to bounce back from boring derby draw over the weekend

LONDON: New Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp looks to claim his first win with The Reds as his side host struggling Bournemouth at Anfield on Wednesday in the fourth round of the League Cup.

Klopp was appointed to great fanfare as the successor to Brendan Rodgers, but Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Southampton was Liverpool’s third successive stalemate since his arrival.

The German will hope that the tide turns at Anfield on Wednesday and will draw encouragement from the fact that opponents Bournemouth have shipped 10 goals in their last two outings, courtesy of back-to-back 5-1 beatings at the hands of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the league.



Not the end of the world, says Klopp

“We can work with this result,” said the former Dortmund boss after the Southampton game. “We can work with this performance of the team. If I sit here and have to say, ‘These guys are not ready for fighting,’ or what not, then it would be bad news. But everybody saw how ready they are and that’s the most important thing.” Following a dreary goalless stalemate in Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Manchester City and Manchester United also continue their League Cup campaigns.

United entertain second-tier Middlesbrough, while City welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad Stadium in what will likely be a tough fixture for both sides.

Antonio Valencia is a doubt for United after manager Louis van Gaal revealed that the right-sided Ecuadorian player sustained a foot injury against City, which saw him replaced by Matteo Darmian late in the game.

Mourinho and Klopp seek League Cup bounce

Meanwhile, Aston Villa will begin life without Tim Sherwood, sacked as manager on Sunday, with a trip to Southampton, where under-21 coach Kevin MacDonald will be in temporary charge of the visitors. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2015.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.