Interview'We need to work for every advantage' - Jürgen Klopp's Carabao Cup final preview

The Reds stride out at Wembley again on Sunday afternoon seeking to lift the trophy for a 10th time having surged strongly through the tournament this season.

After seeing off Championship leaders Leicester City in round three, Klopp’s men successively eliminated Premier League opposition in the form of AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United and Fulham.

Presenting the last obstacle are a side with whom Liverpool played out stalemates in the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup showpieces of 2022, winning both on penalties.

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And speaking to Liverpoolfc.com ahead of this latest final, Klopp outlined how those occasions serve as proof his team will need to dig deep to make the silverware theirs.

On the Reds fully meriting their place at Wembley, the boss said: “Oh, 100 per cent. I have no doubt about it. Really tough opponents and really great performances.

“We changed a lot, changed the teams a lot. For us the competition was a benefit as well, if you want, because at that time we had pretty much 95 per cent of the squad available and we could play them all and we did. So it’s great.

“It’s the Caoimh Kelleher competition as well, so he has the chance to win the second trophy of his career, which is absolutely great. He won already a lot, but standing in the goal I know that maybe feels for the boys slightly different. He plays the second final, let me say it like that. That’s all really cool.

“So far, only positives about the competition.”

Klopp continued: “The result we had here [a 4-1 league win over Chelsea at Anfield last month] doesn’t help, of course we have to play the game again and it’s like firing the opponent up slightly.

“The final is a completely different game, there’s no home ground obviously. We played them now a couple of times in a final and we know one part is blue and one is red. We know what our people are able to do, but the Chelsea people will be looking forward to it as well.

“But everybody knows, a final, there is no favourite, it starts at nil and for each little advantage you want to have, you have to work incredibly hard.

“The two Chelsea games in the finals [in 2022], I remember as two of the best draws I’ve ever been part of in my entire life because it was from a tactical point of view incredible, from an intensity point of view incredible, and then 0-0, 0-0 – strange one.”

That Carabao Cup final of two years ago proved to be a fairy tale for Academy graduate Caoimhin Kelleher, who made several vital saves during the game and then converted a penalty in the shootout that was ultimately the winner.

The Republic of Ireland international will again be between the posts at Wembley, for what will be his 16th appearance in all competitions in 2023-24.

And Klopp is full of pride in Kelleher for taking his opportunities.

“I know Caoimh for eight years so I saw him growing… literally! He deserves it, he is a fantastic goalkeeper. I think I was not shy of mentioning that in public,” he said.

“You know we have this wall at the goalie area [at the AXA Training Centre], which Adrian is on because he won the Super Cup, and Caoimh went on after that night at Wembley, which was a pretty special night for him and for us.

“He just deserves it, let me say it like that, of all the things. We have so many nice stories at the moment with our own kids getting through to the first team. And I think having Alisson Becker in the club as the No.1 – if I would have to make a world XI tomorrow, he would be the goalie – being then No.2 is top because you can learn so many things.

“But of course you need game time as well, and giving him that now in the Europa League in the group stage and the Carabao Cup, he played a lot of games. Getting through to the final is for sure a pretty special story for him.”

In the Reds’ previous five League Cup fixtures this season, 24 players have featured for Klopp, with the competition providing chances across the squad and opening up a pathway for younger players.

“There are different opportunities to write history, if you want,” explained the manager. “Because obviously Liverpool fans never forget.

“Two years ago it was probably the competition of Taki Minamino with the goals he scored, he brought us to the final. That’s now probably Cody Gakpo with the goals he scored in the competition.

“And yes, a lot of kids played a lot of minutes, which is really, really important for them and helped us then in the Premier League as well, because I’m not 100 per cent sure where their first game was but all the minutes you can give them help and you can see that in the performances they showed in the Premier League then.

“Jarell [Quansah], incredible development this season. Conor [Bradley], incredible development this season. Bobby Clark, incredible development. James McConnell, incredible development. So many really nice things that happened during the season.

“And even Owen Beck; so, he came back from Dundee because of our left-back situation, and then we decided he can go back to Dundee after all the boys were fit again. When he was in my office, it’s just so nice that the boys appreciate it really, having that time, even when it was maybe disruptive with his Dundee thing. He was in my office and said, ‘You gave me my Premier League debut.’ ‘Did I? Oh yes, last week!’ It’s so cool, you just realise how much it means to the boys.

“It’s a big step, whichever competition it’s a big step for the young players. They brought us two years ago into the final and helped us winning the competition, and they did the same now.”

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