Liverpool 1 Augsburg 0 (Agg 1-0): Milner pen sends Klopp’s men into Europa League last-16

THIS was more of a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s Capital One Cup final than a last audition for places.

   MATCH WINNER: MIlner celebrates his penalty

And Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was just pleased his side came through against Augsburg with no injuries as they prepare to face Manchester City on Sunday.

The Reds progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League thanks to James Milner’s early penalty and now the focus turns to the Wembley showdown with City.

Klopp put out a strong side, all of which could possibly start the final.

But he knows they will have to be better than this if they are to beat Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the League Cup decider.

The Kop boss said: “That is how football is, if you can’t decide the game early enough that is how it is. It was a good game, the win was absolutely deserved.

“We were the better team, we created chances but we had one problem in that we didn’t use them.

“It is still a long way and the only problem was we couldn’t control the game in the last 20 minutes.

“After the game with a 1-0 I am completely fine as I know there are no injuries.

“It was hard, that is how it should be, but we are in the next round.”

Liverpool were looking to avoid a taxing night and they got a helping hand early on.

Jordan Henderson’s cross was stupidly taken off the head of Caiuby by team-mate Dominik Kohr’s hand and the Reds had a fifth-minute penalty.

Milner stepped up to dispatch it low into the corner and ensure extra-time would not be needed to decide this affair after a goalless draw in Augsburg last week.

Caiuby had earlier missed a chance for the visitors but it was Liverpool on the front foot.

Koo Ja-Cheol gave the ball away in midfield and Phlippe Coutinho played a one-two with Daniel Sturridge before his shot was saved by Marwin Hitz.

Liverpool deployed Lucas as a makeshift defender and he almost gifted Augsburg an equaliser as the Brazilian’s short backpass was collected by Caiuby and he rounded keeper Simon Mignolet.

But his shot bobbled wide as Mamadou Sakho got back to cover the goal.

Sturridge then forced Hitz into a good stop before the break after Coutinho teed him up.

The striker spoke yesterday about how disrespectful it was for people to question his hunger to play.

And he was showing plenty of appetite here even though he wasted a good chance for a second after the restart when he curled wide following more defensive errors from Augsburg.

Mignolet came to the rescue with 20 minutes to go after he came out to block Tobias Werner after he was allowed race through the Reds' defence unmarked.

Liverpool avoided a late penalty when Alexander Esswein went down in the area under a challenge from Alberto Moreno before Stafylidis curled a free-kick just wide.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet; Clyne, Lucas, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Milner; Firmino, Sturridge (Origi 66), Coutinho (Teixeira 79).

Subs: Ward, Toure, Benteke, Smith, Chirivella.

AUGSBURG (4-2-3-1): Hitz; Verhaegh, Janker (Parker 90), Klavan, Stafylidis; Esswein, Altintop; Werner (Bobadilla 72), Koo (Moravek 80), Caiuby; Kohr.

Subs: Manninger, Opare, Max, Rieder.

Referee: Clement Turpin (France)