Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp feels the ‘exciting’ EFL Cup fourth round draw is a big boost for the competition, although he admits he stopped smiling when the Reds were paired with Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds booked their place in next round of domestic cup competition with a win over Derby County on Tuesday, and have been handed a home tie against Tottenham in the fourth round.
However, it is not the only heavyweight game of the EFL Cup round of 16 as a London derby between West Ham and Chelsea has also been drawn out of the hat and even Manchester United and Manchester City will clash again at Old Trafford this season in the fourth round of the competition.
Klopp is happy to see so many big teams pitted against each other in the next round, and feels with the way the big clubs have approached the domestic cup competition, the fourth round clashes are going to be exciting.
The German said in a press conference: “I was watching the draw – West Ham and Chelsea, a little smile on my face, Man United and City, nice, I smiled again, but then a freeze in my face because we got Tottenham! But it's good. It's a big boost for the competition.
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“When I came here I had to explain why we were playing strong line-ups [in the EFL Cup], so it’s a boost for the competition, and each game is like a semi-final and with the line-ups the teams have played, it’s [going to be] exciting.
“I am happy to be playing at home, and since we can’t have European nights, I am looking forward to it.”
Liverpool faltered in the last hurdle in the League Cup last season when the lost the final to Manchester City on penalties.
