'We were ecstatic to draw Liverpool in the cup'
Nigel Clough expects a huge challenge against Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in the League Cup second round, but was nevertheless delighted to draw the Reds earlier this week.
Having eliminated Bury with a 3-2 victory, Championship side Burton Albion were paired with their manager’s former club on Wednesday night.
It means a trip to Pirelli Stadium for Klopp’s charges in a fortnight – and though expecting a difficult tie, Clough and his players are already looking forward to the visit.
The Burton boss said: “We were absolutely delighted. When it came out that we were at home to Liverpool, everybody was ecstatic.
“We were watching it with the Bury manager, David Flitcroft, and he was even more disappointed to lose out on the potential to play Liverpool at home in the next round.
“It’ll be a strange one. I wish, in some ways, we were coming to Anfield because that would make it even more special.
“But the fact that we’ve got such a major club as Liverpool coming to Burton, our supporters will be looking forward to it.”
He continued: “It will give everybody a buzz.
“Everybody is on a high anyway with us being in the Championship for the first time. We have got our first home match on Saturday, so everybody is buzzing anyway.
“But this just adds to it and it’s great. It means we’ve got a hectic couple of weeks coming up before the international break but it’s a great fixture for the club.”
The Reds reached two cup finals last season as Klopp juggled the demands of various competitions in his opening months at the helm.
Clough therefore knows the German will send out a strong line-up to face Burton, who have accelerated through the divisions in recent years.
“The club has only been in the Football League six or seven years, so to be in the Championship and now enjoying this draw in the League Cup makes it even more special,” he said.
“We’re a small club, the smallest in the Championship. It will be a very special night, a great atmosphere and it will be packed out.
“One thing that does stand out is that [Klopp] puts a team out to win every game.
“I’m not sure what he’ll do come the time, but whichever side will be more than enough to win the game. So it’s going to be a huge challenge.”