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Jurgen Klopp declared Liverpool are ready for Wembley after his side extended their European adventure.

On a nervy night at Anfield, James Milner's fifth-minute penalty proved decisive as the Reds edged past German side Augsburg 1-0 on the night and on aggregate in the Europa League round of 32.

The only goal of the tie came after visiting defender Dominik Kohr was adjudged to have handled by French referee Clement Turpin.

Liverpool, who will discover their last 16 opponents on Friday, then wasted a succession of chances before being made to dig deep during the closing stages.

In pictures: Liverpool 1-0 FC Augsburg

And asked how he felt going into Sunday's Capital One Cup final against Manchester City, Klopp said: “Winning is better than a defeat and being knocked out!

“Tonight isn't relevant to Sunday in that sense, but obviously the team has benefited from a good performance and gained confidence from winning, but you could say the same about City in Kiev on Tuesday night.

“We will try our damndest to produce a good performance on Sunday.”

Of the win over Augsburg, Klopp added: “It was a really good game and our win was absolutely deserved – everybody who saw the game would have to say we deserved to win.

“We know we have no injuries. We are in the next round. It was well deserved.”

Both Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho continued their return to full fitness by featuring for more than an hour.

Sturridge twice came close to scoring his first goal in European competition for the Reds, hitting the post in the first half and inches wide with an effort after the break.

“He is getting into that rhythm,” said Klopp. “That's important. That's what every player would tell you.

“You need to know you can carry on in a situation where it is a little harder.

“Phil had one or two challenges where he felt this but, when I asked him, he was always okay with it.

“We need to find new trust and faith in the body of the players.

“It was great for us. They (Sturridge and Coutinho) are both very important for us. But we need them in the best shape, and you can only get that shape through training and matches.”

Klopp admitted Liverpool had made the closing moments difficult for themselves by failing t put the tie beyond the reach of Augsburg.

“If you can't decide a game early enough that it's always going to be like this,” he said.

“We were the better team and created chances. We didn't score often enough, that was the problem.

“We couldn't control the game in the last 20 minutes, but we aren't the first team to have that problem.

“We just forgot to get that decisive second goal.”

Lucas Leiva was preferred to Kolo Toure at centre-back alongside Mamadou Sakho in the only change from the Liverpool side that followed the 6-0 win at Aston Villa with the first-leg goalless draw in Augsburg.

And Klopp explained: “I knew that we had to play more football from the last time.

“Kolo has a lot of quality and skills like this but the first one isn't that he wants to always play.

“We needed today against a deep defending team to have in nearly all positions a player who wants to play the pass. Not the last pass from the last line, but good passing skills.

“The other thing is Kolo has done well, but has had a lot of games in his legs.”

Klopp was also asked by the German press about his experience with Augsburg counterpart Markus Weinzierl.

“The technical area is tight but it's not a problem,” he said. “Actually I congratulated him before the game for being a bit annoying!

“But we are both committed men and had a look at each other on occasion but at the end of the day we like each other.”