Even for the most diehard Liverpool supporters, the EFL Cup can admittedly feel like a bit of an afterthought compared to fans' feverish desires to win the Premier League and Champions League.
Consider Liverpool’s EFL Cup victory last season–while a large list of injuries certainly played a role in shaping the lineup for the final against Chelsea, Jürgen Klopp gave opportunities to youth players like Jayden Danns and Bobby Clark due to a tightly packed fixture schedule and the need to keep senior players fresh for the ongoing Premier League title race.
The kids earned a memorable win in what would end up being The Normal One’s last trophy with the club, but Klopp would be the first to tell you that he would have traded it for a Premier League title in a heartbeat.
It Still Matters
But why would a victory in this year’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United perhaps mean a bit more to the club than usual?
The March 16 clash against the Magpies carries significant meaning for the Reds, with the most notable being the opportunity to secure Arne Slot's first trophy in his debut season.
Reaching a cup final in his debut season is already a major achievement for the Dutchman; a win would place him alongside Erik ten Hag in 2023 and José Mourinho in 2005 as the most recent managers to capture the League Cup on their first attempt with a new club–an accomplishment that even legendary figures like Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola were unable to achieve.
Slot has already passed the test of succeeding Klopp with flying colors so far, and bringing a trophy back to Anfield on his first try would only build to his incredible start with the club.
Liverpool also have the chance to make history as cup repeaters–there have been 12 instances of consecutive League Cup wins by the same team since the inception of the competition in 1960, and they now have the chance to up that number to 13.
A Chance at History
A triumph at Wembley would also see Liverpool successfully defend the Carabao Cup for the first time in club history since their dominant run from 1981 to 1984, while further extending their 10 League Cup wins to 11—the most of any English side.
What’s more is that Liverpool currently sit atop the Premier League table with a six point lead over Arsenal, enter the Champions League knockouts as the top point-getters in the league stage and are still alive in the FA Cup.
Securing the Carabao Cup could be the first step in a multi-trophy season, a truly enticing prospect that feels very possible at this moment in time.
Revenge is also best served cold, and Liverpool now have the chance to face Newcastle twice in quick succession.
Before their meeting at Wembley, they’ll clash at Anfield in the Premier League on Feb. 26, offering two opportunities to settle the score after the Magpies stole a late point in a 3-3 draw against the Reds at St. James’ Park earlier this season.
Newcastle have also failed to win a major final since the 1951 FA Cup, and Liverpool can keep their northern rivals trophyless with a victory themselves.
It could only be the Beginning
Lastly, I’ve said before that I firmly believe Liverpool can establish a mini-dynasty if they retain the three players involved in contract talks given how this senior group has performed under Slot.
Winning the Carabao Cup could be a positive first step in getting both management and the players to fully buy into that vision.
Could Trent Alexander-Arnold be a perfect fit for a Real Madrid side desperately looking for a class fullback? Probably. Would Mo Salah make a silly amount of money if he were to be snatched up by the Saudi League? Definitely.
But could the first step toward a possible double, treble, or even quadruple make these players reconsider leaving, inspiring them to build an even greater legacy at Anfield—and push management to meet them halfway to achieve more together? I’d like to think so.
Liverpool played with as much passion and energy in their 4-0 semifinal win against Tottenham as I’ve seen from them all season, and it appears that Slot has pushed them to treat the competition with the utmost importance.
So if you’re a Red who hasn’t paid much attention to Liverpool’s cup games, know that a win could be the genesis of a truly incredible first campaign for Arne Slot’s machine.