Jürgen Klopp is now looking forward to another trip to Wembley next month. And with players returning from injury, Premier League rivals will be taking note.
Not only is winning the quadruple something that is almost impossible to achieve, but it also very rarely happens that a team is even in with a remote chance of pulling it off. Yet this season, it should be very much on the agenda for Liverpool.
Jürgen Klopp’s side have booked their first trip to Wembley and are among the favorites for the other three competitions that they’re part of.
They might yet fall short, but why not dream? Liverpool have a strong squad and there is no reason to believe the second half of the campaign cannot be incredibly exciting.
Facing Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final and with an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Norwich City to come on Sunday, Liverpool could have done no more in the domestic cups. Arsenal have already been eliminated from the FA Cup, which only makes winning that considerably more likely.
And perhaps the most exciting part of it all for Liverpool is that they have quietly been going about their business, winning games and continuing to make progress on all fronts, while having a lengthy injury and absence list.
Nine players were out of the semi-final second leg against Fulham but the likes of Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley stepped up.
This week, Klopp should welcome Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold back to training and Andy Robertson could get some minutes at the weekend having been on the bench at Craven Cottage. All three of those players are first-XI stars.
Still absent are Mohamed Salah, Wataru Endō, Thiago Alcântara, Kostas Tsimikas and Stefan Bajčetić, but Liverpool are not missing them on the evidence so far. They will be back before the end of the season, though Joël Matip may not be.
When Liverpool do get a few more bodies in, the Reds will increase their capacity once again. Already leading the way in the Premier League, Klopp’s squad will only be better for having Robertson and co back available.
That is the statement that Liverpool have sent to Premier League title rivals. Even with players out and matches in all competitions, Klopp has been able to traverse those difficulties, using his full squad — including plenty of young talents — to get the most out of each player.
If Liverpool can be this good without Salah, Robertson, Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold, just imagine what it will look like with just those four — let alone the likes of Thiago.
The base level has been enough to put Liverpool front and center of every tournament they’re in but the best is still yet to come.
Pep Guardiola has been boosted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne recently and Manchester City will have Erling Haaland back soon as well, but Liverpool should not be fearful.
The message has been sent loud and clear over the last few weeks: even with key players missing, the Reds are unlikely to be going anywhere.
