Jurgen Klopp Learns Plenty About His Players in League Cup Final Defeat
WEMBLEY, London—Liverpool's run of penalty shootout success ended in heartbreaking fashion, losing 3-1 to Manchester City in the League Cup final after the match had ended 1-1 after extra time.
The Reds had progressed to the final via two penalty shootouts, against Carlisle United and Stoke City, but saw City goalkeeper Willy Caballero save from Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.
Liverpool have a rich history in this competition and have won the trophy for a record eight times—their last success being on penalties against Cardiff City four years ago.
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Indeed, the Reds' last three trophies had all been won on penalties, with the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup also being won via spot-kicks. There were to be no such heroics this time.
The match was the cliched good advert for English football, with end-to-end spells, strong challenges and plenty of chances for each side.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet showed both sides of his game—woefully allowing Fernandinho's shot to go under his body from a tight angle in the opening minutes of the second half, then proceeding to make four fantastic saves across the rest of the half and extra time.
Mignolet's Jekyll-and-Hyde performance perhaps epitomises this Liverpool squad as a whole. Such moments of weakness and lapses in concentration continue to plague the Reds. Cup finals are decided on such small margins.
Liverpool did get themselves back into the game, though, with Coutinho finishing after Lallana's shot rebounded off the post. The Brazilian—who scored in his team's visit to Wembley last season too—was clearly ecstatic, celebrating by running to the supporters.
His celebrations later turned to agony as his stuttered spot-kick saw Caballero save.
Speaking post-match, Klopp discussed how his side must feel the pain of defeat, then "strike back."
"You have to feel a defeat, you can't say 'I don't care, it's not important', it was important," said the German. "Tomorrow, you always have to strike back. You can fall down but you have to stand up."
So, just how can Liverpool strike back—in the remainder of this season, and into the next?
This Season
Inevitably, talk after losing this final sees attention now turn to the Reds' other remaining chance of silverware—the Europa League.
Liverpool face two huge games against Manchester United. They must use the experience of this defeat to overcome their Old Trafford rivals—and put right the four consecutive defeats to the Red Devils.
Before that European double-header, Klopp's side have opportunity to avenge Sunday's defeat when the Citizens arrive at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday. Liverpool will be hoping for a similar story to May 2012, when Chelsea arrived at Anfield days after defeating the Reds in the FA Cup final, with the home side running out 4-1 winners.
Manuel Pellegrini's side will have to be wary of Liverpool's players being intent on now denting their title challenge in response to Sunday's League Cup final defeat.
Both sides are more than likely to make changes for the game, given the 120 minutes of intense football at Wembley.
Klopp won't start Daniel Sturridge—the striker having played over 75 minutes for the first time since October, playing 120 minutes. The Liverpool manager explained post-match that the Reds' forward was suffering from cramp in the final minutes, hence why he didn't take a penalty in the shootout.
That could mean a start for Divock Origi on Wednesday. The Belgian's introduction largely changed the game at Wembley, arriving to give good presence up front, showing his strength and ability to hold up and link play. His introduction also saw Klopp changed to a diamond formation in midfield, which gave the tiring Sturridge more support in attack.
It's a formation that Klopp could look to utilise more in the rest of the campaign, one which got the best from Sturridge in the 2013/14 season.
With all eyes on the Europa, not too many supporters would be disappointed if Klopp used the Premier League to find out more about his players.
Why not give the likes of Danny Ward, Brad Smith and Cameron Brannagan their full Premier League debuts? Not all at once, but there are plenty of games for the opportunities.
Klopp may opt to make such changes on Wednesday. Joe Allen didn't get off the bench on Sunday, while centre-backs Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel—both returning from injury—didn't make the squad.
Roberto Firmino was largely disappointing at Wembley, but should start on Wednesday after being subbed off.
Jon Flanagan, a sub at Wembley, will be eyeing a first Premier League start since May 2014. Either he or Smith could replace Alberto Moreno—who provided an outlet for Liverpool in attack but showed his defensive liabilities on more than one occasion. The Spaniard was fortunate not to have given away a penalty with another moment of madness akin to that against Norwich City last month.
Questions over Moreno's suitability to be Liverpool's first choice left-back will continue long into the summer. This game certainly exposed his weaknesses.
Future
One player we can expect to be heading for the Anfield exit this summer is Christian Benteke. The Belgian has been continually overlooked for his compatriot Origi in recent weeks and his only minutes of action since Sturridge returned from injury was as a sub when 6-0 up at Aston Villa.
Benteke's last start was at West Ham United in the FA Cup, his last league start was also against the Hammers at Upton Park—almost two months ago.
You wouldn't expect Klopp to opt to give him a rare start against City on Wednesday, despite Sturridge being extremely unlikely to feature. Benteke is firmly fourth-choice striker, and will be fifth choice once Danny Ings is available.
Liverpool will offload the £32.5 million signing, but they won't recoup anywhere near what they paid for him last summer.
Benteke's departure is all but assured, and compatriot Mignolet could be another high-profile exit from Anfield. The goalkeeper's error for Fernandinho's goal came as no surprise—and that's the most depressing aspect for Liverpool supporters. Such glaring errors are commonplace.
If Liverpool are to get back among the Premier League's top four, and into the Champions League, they need a reliable No. 1. Too often they find themselves fighting to get back into a game and make up for their goalkeeper's error.
On the other side of the coin, two players whose futures could have been away from Anfield this summer, Kolo Toure and Lucas Leiva, put in superb performances in a makeshift defensive partnership.
Lucas was given the nod ahead of Toure in the starting XI, but Mamadou Sakho's head injury saw the Ivorian enter the fray.
Toure turns 35 next month, but he showed he is more than capable despite his age. The player has indicated his desire to remain at the club and on this sort of showing it might make Klopp considering giving him another year.
Should Toure leave Liverpool this summer, another Premier League club could really benefit from his character, experience, and actual quality on the pitch.
Wembley's game will have provided plenty of food for thought for Klopp ahead of a summer where he can truly shape his squad, safe in the knowledge that players have been given the opportunity to make their mark.
Some have taken that opportunity—Toure, Lucas and Origi—while others are seeming losing the fight for their futures—Moreno, Benteke and Mignolet.
* Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.
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