Neil Jones, GOAL’s Liverpool correspondent, said he doesn’t think Jurgen Klopp has taken the Carabao Cup “more seriously” this season.
Liverpool take on Chelsea in Sunday’s showpiece occasion in what is the Reds’ first domestic final since 2016.
The two domestic cup competitions haven’t been at the top of Klopp’s agenda since his arrival in 2015.
It was Southampton who beat them in the semi-final back in 2017.
That was Liverpool’s best finish in either of the cup competitions under Klopp until this year.
Jones highlighted the improvement of the overall squad as the main factor as to why Klopp’s side find themselves in Sunday’s final.
He said: “I just think he’s got a better pool of players to choose from and that’s been emphasised this season with Mimaino and Origi scoring goals in the competition.
Think of the impact some of the subs had in the Leicester game with Konate and Milner and players like that coming off the bench.”
It was that dramatic comeback against the Foxes that really sparked the fans’ interest.
The Carabao Cup often takes on significantly less important in comparison to the rest of the silverware on offer.
Klopp has gone about his business as he usually does for this competition.
This includes factors like sending assistant manager Pep Ljinders to press conferences and heavy rotation.
It’s the rotation we’ve seen so far that makes Jones think it’s simply a matter of fact.
Liverpool just have better players than they’ve had in the past.
He said: “In years gone by he’s made a lot of changes and he did the same this year.
“Harvey Blair played at Preston earlier in the season, Conor Bradley and Kaide Gordon played at Norwich.
“He’s done the same, I just think these players are a little bit better.
“Kelleher is a better second choice keeper than they’ve had in recent years, Joe Gomez is fourth choice centre-back, Tsimikas, players like that.”
“Despite the usual lack of importance placed on this competition by fans, it does provide the fringe players to impress and contribute towards a trophy.”
Jones explained what impact “getting it over the line” could have on those on the periphery of the squad.
He said: “What it [winning the final] does do is gives all of those squad players [a boost].
“Whether it’s Conor Bradley, whether it’s Tsimikas, Konate, Gomez, Nat Phillips.
“They’ve all contributed at some point and it shows there’s something for all of you here.
“You might not be first choice, you might not start every game.
“You might just be needed to come off the bench in a certain game but you’ve contributed and you’ve earned your medal.”
It will be a strong Liverpool side that takes to the field at Wembley. Klopp will want his first domestic cup trophy in England.
Should the Reds win the cup for the ninth time, they’ll have a number of their fringe players to thank.
[Featured image courtesy of Mick Baker, under Creative Commons licence]
