Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield last season was at best a blessing in disguise, and at worst irritating. The League Cup, bafflingly now called the Carabao Cup, is seen as a bit of a joke to a large proportion of Premier League clubs, and its entire existence has been more largely discussed than ever before. Jurgen Klopp, quite clearly, wasn’t too interested as he shrugged off the defeat, but this season, Liverpool have been blessed with an opportunity.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Klopp has history of giving his youngsters a chance in the cup, something he probably couldn’t afford to do last year. Chelsea at home is no gimme and to get them in the third round must have scuppered Klopp’s plans to get a closer look at some of his brightest prospects. However, this season is different. Liverpool were drawn away to League One MK Dons at the first hurdle this time, and Klopp got his wish. The likes of Kelleher, Hoever, Jones, Elliot and Brewster all played, whilst there were much needed minutes for the likes of Chamberlain, Keita, Gomez and Lallana.
It was a perfect game for the U23s; a tough test against a team with a point to prove, in a knockout competition where winner takes all. It was an experience you won’t get in Premier League 2, the U23 league in English football. Most impressed: Kelleher, Jones, Elliot and Hoever all looked bright, whilst Brewster may be accused of not taking his opportunity. He will get his chance again when Arsenal come to town on Wednesday. A club that seems to be in a perpetual state of crisis against currently the best team in the country. It may well be a bigger step up in teams than Klopp would have liked, maybe a Championship side would have been ideal but beggars can’t be choosers.
The Arsenal game is must-win: no doubt. Not necessarily in terms of Liverpool’s season as a whole, we won’t be judged on whether we win the League Cup or not, that’s a given. But this game is must-win for Liverpool’s future. The future generation of talent, and the players currently on the fringes of the first team, are going to find first team games hard to come by. For the youngsters, any chance in the first team now should be grasped with two hands; Brewster came in for some criticism for his performance against MK Dons. He had made a big point before signing his new deal that he had to be getting first team football, with a switch to Germany looking inevitable before Klopp persuaded him to stay. He didn’t grasp the opportunity first time round, but he has a second chance against Arsenal and to stake his claim for that fourth attacker spot. Harvey Elliot was dazzling in the third round and will be sure to want to make his mark at home, giving the Anfield faithful a glimpse of what’s to come over the next few years. Defeat against Arsenal will see the pathway to the first team suddenly blocked off for a lot of these players, until the FA Cup rolls around come January. The youngsters who may well play on Wednesday have to go out with a point to prove, to give themselves an extra game in the first team and pick up that invaluable senior experience which can only serve to make them better footballers, and show the coaching staff that they are worth putting time and effort into developing.
This is also a huge game for those who are struggling to get into the starting XI on a regular basis. There has been many a question regarding Liverpool’s midfield after an insipid performance against United followed up by a much more positive performance in Genk with the midfield refreshed. Klopp turned to his tried and trusted against Spurs and they delivered, putting the foot on Tottenham’s throat in pursuit of three points, complicated by a Harry Kane goal within 50 seconds. Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain especially can’t expect for starts to be handed to them on a plate, they have to take their chance when they get it; they started in Genk, and now they have another opportunity: firstly against Arsenal, and then Aston Villa in the league. Arsenal is the first test, and with it being a knockout competition it will raise the stakes. Chamberlain will be playing against former club, proving to their supporters he made the right decision when making the switch to Merseyside. Naby Keita was impressive in Genk, and benched Jordan Henderson last season before suffering an injury in Barcelona. They have both battled back from adversity to get back into the reckoning, the next step for them is performing to a standard that puts them back into contention on a regular basis, starting with that oh so important cup game against Arsenal. It’s a win-win situation for all involved, and only victory against Arsenal can benefit Liverpool in the marathon, as well as the sprint.
Brandon Russell
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