Why the Domestic Cups Could Be Arne Slot’s Best Route to First Season Silverware | OneFootball

It would be incredible if Arne Slot could win the Premier League title with Liverpool in his first season with the club, or even take down the Champions League.

But it’s important to remember that the Reds are still in transition under the Dutchman, with plenty of positives – and a few areas for improvement – revealing themselves in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Former Liverpool managers have targeted the English domestic cups as their route to silverware; since the dawn of the new millennium, the Reds have won the EFL Cup five times and the FA Cup thrice.

So, are those competitions the ones that Slot should be targeting?

Leagues Above

Liverpool’s success in the League Cup in the modern era is confirmation of how seriously they have taken a competition that can be overlooked by others.

In 2001, the Reds lifted the trophy after defeating Birmingham City at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The Blues are now the favourites in this season’s League 1 odds at 1/3 to top the table; their fall from grace is evidence of the importance of sensible off-field management.

The football betting odds made Liverpool a strong favourite on that fateful day in 2001 too, although Gérard Houllier’s side were made to work hard by a dogged Birmingham outfit.

Robbie Fowler gave the Reds the first-half lead, but they couldn’t find a way through a resilient Birmingham backline to add a second. And, as they always say, a one-goal lead is a dangerous thing.

So, when Darren Purse notched a 90th-minute spot kick, it was off to extra time the game went. With no further action, the contest would be settled by the dreaded penalty shootout.

Fortunately, from Liverpool’s perspective, Didi Hamann’s miss went unpunished as the Blues missed two of their spot kicks… the Reds were up and running with their first trophy of the new millennium.

Pep Guardiola has declared that his Manchester City side won’t waste energy on the EFL Cup this term, but for Liverpool it’s been a great way to treat fans to a day out at Wembley Stadium – and put some more silverware in the trophy cabinet.

Winning the League Cup is even more satisfying when you down a rival in the final; Manchester United left in tears when goals from Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen condemned them to defeat in the 2003 showpiece.

It would be the best part of a decade before the Reds got their hands on the trophy once more; this time, it was Cardiff City that took them to penalties in the 2012 edition following an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Gerrard and Charlie Adam missed Liverpool’s first two spot kicks, but two Cardiff takers hit the post to set the scene for Glen Johnson to notch the winner.

It was déjà vu all over again a decade later: the 2022 final also decided by penalties. What followed between Liverpool and Chelsea was one of the most remarkable shootouts ever witnessed, as all ten outfield players for both teams scored.

In the end, it was Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga that was left red-faced: he missed from the spot to spark wild celebrations amongst the Liverpool players and supporters.

Jürgen Klopp’s last trophy as Liverpool boss came courtesy of the 2023/24 EFL Cup final. Virgil van Dijk stepped up with the vital goal in injury time against Chelsea once again to ensure a fitting send-off for the German.

Magic of the FA Cup

Since the year 2000, the Reds have played in four FA Cup finals: winning three and losing the other.

The first triumph came after a fantastic showdown with Arsenal; Michael Owen’s brace was enough to win a thoroughly entertaining game in 2001, capping a remarkable season in which Gérard Houllier’s men completed the unusual treble of FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup.

There’s just something about Liverpool FC and domestic cup final penalty shootouts… the 2006 game against West Ham also decided from the spot, with regulation time headlined by Gerrard’s stunning injury-time equaliser.

It was a Hammers horror show from the spot – they missed three of their opening four kicks, handing the Reds an easy victory.

A full 16 years passed before Liverpool made it to the FA Cup final once more. And, you guessed it, the game went to penalties… and Chelsea once again came out on the losing side.

Mason Mount was the man to miss this time, securing the FA Cup for Klopp: he would later complete the career quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in his glittering spell at Anfield.

Will Slot be able to get his own trophy count up and running in 2024/25?