Fowler: Reds must treat Leeds tie like a league game
Robbie Fowler is confident Liverpool can win the battle between two of his former clubs on Tuesday night – provided they treat the EFL Cup clash with Leeds United like any other game.
The Reds host the Championship side in the competition’s quarter-finals as they continue their quest to go one better than last season, when they were runners-up to Manchester City on penalties at Wembley.
Leeds have already beaten four teams to reach this stage of the tournament, and sit fifth in the second tier of English football after a 2-1 win at Rotherham United at the weekend.
Fowler, who joined the visitors upon leaving Liverpool in late 2001, feels the quality of Jürgen Klopp’s side should ultimately tell – but only if they approach the match as if it is a Premier League fixture.
“For me, you treat every game the same – whether you’re playing Manchester United or a lower-league side,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“You go out there and play to your utmost. If you go into any game and your mindset alters in any way, that’s why you see upsets. It should never be the case.
“On paper, Liverpool should be winning relatively easily. But the Leeds team, playing against a Premier League side and playing against Liverpool, will raise their game.
“It’s all about Liverpool – if they go out and play the way they can, I shouldn’t foresee any problems.”
As you would expect, the Liverpool legend hopes it is Klopp’s team who are celebrating a place in the semi-finals come the end of the contest.
But his two-year stay with Leeds taught Fowler plenty about the Yorkshire club and its fans, meaning he is anticipating a stern test for the hosts, on and off the pitch.
He said: “Obviously I want Liverpool to go through.
“It’s a massive, massive game for Leeds – they are a big club and have got fantastic fans. I would be amazed if they don’t sell out their allocation; the fans travel really well and get right behind them.
“You would expect Liverpool to go through with the team and squad we have got. Whether Jürgen will play a mixed team, I’m not sure, but you’d still fancy them to be on top.
“Leeds will come and treat it like an absolutely massive game, and regardless of the team Jürgen puts out they will come and give it their all. They have got nothing to lose, all the pressure is on Liverpool. Buoyed by the away crowd, I think they’ll make a good game of it.”
The League Cup provided Fowler with his first piece of silverware, back in 1995, and he also scored in the 2001 showpiece to help the Reds claim the first of three major trophies that season.
It’s therefore a competition he is particularly fond of and one the Englishman believes can be the foundation for a team to become consistently successful.
“It whets your appetite, certainly at a club as big as Liverpool,” he said.
“You base yourselves on what you’ve won. I was lucky enough to win trophies, and once you do win one it makes you want to perform better in other cup competitions and leagues.
“It is a major trophy. I was lucky enough to win it and it gives the players the right attitude and the winning mentality. I’ve always looked at it like that. I think it’s massive.
“It was the first trophy I won and I’ll always hold it in high esteem. It sets you up, it sets the fans up, and sets everyone up to go on and win others.”