Burnley manager Sean Dyche was left to rue what might have been after watching his side crash out of the Carabao Cup 3-1 at home to League One Sunderland.

The Clarets went into the tie as favourites but after Jay Rodriguez had given the hosts the lead in the 11th minute, the Black Cats scored three unanswered goals through Will Grigg, Tom Flanagan and George Dobson.

It was all-square at half-time but 1-1 became 3-1 in the Wearsiders favour within five minutes of the restart and Dyche was left frustrated by the way things unfolded. “We should have been two up at half-time,” he told BBC Lancashire.

“It goes to show the clinical edge of football is the important part. “We let a poor goal in the first half, which was a mistake, and the first five minutes of the second half for an experienced group is poor on two set pieces.”

The Turf Moor outfit have taken four points from their first three Premier League games in 2019-2020 but face a huge task at the weekend as Jurgen Klopp brings his Liverpool juggernaut to Lancashire.

Dyche rested a number of his regular first-team stars on Wednesday and hinted that there is a reason that those on the peripheries who faltered late in the game do not see that much action. “Second half there were not enough players actively taking the game on,” he added.

“The last half an hour is why [some playing do not start many games] because you have got to lay down a marker.” Despite being at home, Burney are 9.50 to beat Liverpool, with the Reds on offer at 1.36.