Explained: How Liverpool Should Approach ‘Winnable’ Carabao Cup Run | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Journey: Looking ‘Winnable’

Following the midweek round of games and subsequent Carabao Cup quarter final draw, Liverpool can now start to take this competition a little more seriously, with only the maximum of three round remaining in the tournament. For the reds 4th round tie away to Brighton, both the LFC head coach, Arne Slot, as well as his opposition manager, Fabian Hürzeler, opted to make no less than eight changes to each of their respective sides before kick-off.

The want to win all games and play all the best players in every match is simply not possible (despite the wants of the fanbase), given the strain created by the top-level football schedule. The Anfield giants are embroiled in a battle for 2024/25 Premier League supremacy with the reigning and defending champions, Manchester City, as well as their north London based rivals, Arsenal.

Photo: IMAGO

The Champions League will always remain a vital component within Liverpool’s daunting fixture list, whilst the commonality of the international windows merely creates more games, far more travel, thereby creating an increased probability of fatigue and injuries to individual players. I was adamant that mass rotation was the best course of action (in my pre game notes) for this midweek battle, however, progression into the Quarter Final stage of this secondary domestic cup competition has coincided with Pep Guardiola’s men being eliminated at the hands of advancing Tottenham.

This reality and the allure of silverware in year one of Arne Slot’s promising new era is now too tantalizing to ignore, especially after the reds received a favourable draw following their victory at the American Express Stadium.

How To Undertake the Quarter Final Stage?

With Southampton hosting the reigning League Cup holders, Liverpool, in the next round of the Carabao Cup competition, it allows a little more clarity in the odds of success down the road. Though no cup game or encounter with another Premier League entity can be taken as a guarantee for success, there is still the reality of a favourable draw, one that can be used to build confidence and belief for the back end of the season. Spurs will face off against Manchester United (at White Hart Lane), Newcastle will host Brentford, as Arsenal have a home tie against fellow London outfit, Crystal Palace.

Photo: IMAGO

With each of these four ties set to play out on the 17th and 18th of December, it allows a beautiful pathway into the Christmas season, where football can often take precedence over all other festive shenanigans. The time between now and then will be decisive in how that match is considered, with the red’s new Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, hopefully having lined up new additions to arrive at the start of January.

The below list is the forthcoming fixtures that will be carried out before the January mini-break, which allows foresight and preliminary planning for both the coaching and medical staff.

Liverpool v Brighton – 2nd November

Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen – 5th November

Liverpool v Aston Villa – 9th November

International Break

Southampton v Liverpool – 24th November

Liverpool v Real Madrid – 27th November

Liverpool v Manchester City – 1st December

Newcastle v Liverpool – 4th December

Everton v Liverpool – 7th December

Girona v Liverpool – 10th December

Liverpool v Fulham – 14th December

Southampton v Liverpool 17/18th December

Tottenham v Liverpool – 22nd December

Liverpool v Leicester City – 26th December

West Ham v Liverpool – 29th December

Liverpool v Manchester United – 5th January

It is amazing to consider that sixteen games are to be played out between this weekend and January 5th of 2025, though the excellent start to life in the revamped Champions’ League group stage (by Liverpool) at least allows some chance of rotation in latter games. The picture at this point looks very promising, though two or three injuries and a handful of poor results can quickly change that situation. Regarding the Carabao Cup and its significance, it may still sit in the overall balance of priorities, however, as a trip to Wembley starts to become a more realistic thing, the temptation to make less changes to the starting eleven may just avail itself.