3/1 To Win
Jonathan Mitchell says Derby County were given an eye-opener of what they need to aspire to after they bowed out of the EFL Cup at the hands of Liverpool.
The 21-year-old shot-stopper made only his second Rams appearance against Jürgen Klopp’s high-flying Reds, but could do very little to prevent the visitors from running out 3-0 winners in the Round Three tie at the iPro Stadium thanks to strikes from Ragnar Klavan, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi.
The goalkeeper was named in the starting line-up in place of Scott Carson, who was ruled out through illness.
Following the tie, Mitchell spoke of his excitement when he was informed that he would be starting against the Premier League outfit.
He told Rams Player HD: “That’s what we have got to aspire to as players. That’s where we want to go and that’s where we want to be. We want to play against the best.
“I found out at about 4:30pm when we met at the Training Centre for our pre-match meal and naturally I was really excited.
“There’s always a little bit of nerves, but I think that is normal with every football game. There was a lot of excitement as well to get out for the game and just try and play well.
“As players, you have got to try and cause headaches for the manager. That’s a great headache for him to have. He wants competition for places and I am just pushing to improve myself and I know Scott is too.”
Although he enjoyed his return between the posts for a ‘great occasion’ Mitchell admitted that Derby came up against a team in top form.
Assessing tonight’s meeting with the Reds, he added: “Personally, I really enjoyed it. It was a great occasion and we played against a top side.
“I just wanted to come in and help the team, but the 3-0 defeat was not what we wanted at all. We played against a top team tonight.
“They were very sharp and had great movement across the park. Modern day football at the top is very different now and the players are just absolute athletes. That really is something that we have to aspire to.”
