Albion’s Carabao Cup journey came to an end with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Liverpool, and head coach Fabian Huerzeler didn't hide his disappointment at the final whistle.

“It’s disappointing to lose this game and be knocked out of the cup,” he admitted. “The difference was that Liverpool scored in the right moments. They took their chances, seemingly out of nowhere, and had timing on their side.”

The game saw Liverpool strike early, putting Albion on the back foot, but Albion fought back with determination, narrowing the scoreline with goals that showcased their attacking strength.

Still, Liverpool capitalised on small defensive gaps and broke through in the closing stages to seal their win. 

(Image: Newsquest) Despite the loss, Huerzeler highlighted several individual performances.

He praised Brajan Gruda, making his full debut, saying: “It was his first game, and we’ve already seen in training that he’s capable of great things.

"He’s young, coming from a different league and culture, and it’s a good start. We’re here to help him improve, and I’m very pleased he got through the full 90 minutes today.”

Tariq Lamptey’s return was another focal point. Acknowledging the difficulty of finding rhythm without regular game time, Huerzeler noted the impact shown. “They are all professionals, and they have to be ready to take their chances.

Albion 2 - Liverpool 3Albion 2 - Liverpool 3 (Image: Newsquest) "Today, some of them showed great impact and a lot of positives, as well as negatives. We will analyse the match, and give them feedback.”

Huerzeler also highlighted Mats Wieffer’s performance, commending his resilience following a recent error against Wolves. “He showed a great response to his mistake on Saturday.

"It’s tough to bounce back, but he displayed the character and personality we need. He was asking for the ball, not hiding. Yes, there were still some mistakes, but his determination is exactly what we want, and I know he’ll continue to help the team.”