Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham has only strengthened my feeling that Andoni Iraola should take the cups seriously this season.
The Reds have made a stuttering start to their Premier League campaign, with three draws in their opening four league matches under the new manager.
Iraola is still unbeaten, and there is absolutely no reason to panic.
But if we’re being realistic, Liverpool shouldn’t be going into this season expecting to win the Premier League.
This is a new era.
There is a new manager trying to change the way the team plays, a squad that still has weaknesses and plenty of players adapting to different demands.
So where could Liverpool’s best chance of silverware come from?
The cups.
And that starts with Tottenham.
I wouldn’t rotate too heavily against Spurs
Liverpool face Tottenham at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup, with the tie taking place on Tuesday night.
Normally, this would be the sort of game where you’d expect a manager to make plenty of changes.
But I’m not sure Iraola should go down that route.
Tottenham are a Premier League side.
They’re not some lower-league opponent Liverpool should be able to beat comfortably with a second-string team.
And this is a knockout competition.
Lose and you’re out.
That makes this very different from a league game where you have 37 more matches to put things right.
If Liverpool have a genuine opportunity to win a trophy this season, why wouldn’t they give themselves the best possible chance?
The cups could be Liverpool’s route to success
The Premier League is going to be incredibly difficult.
Liverpool have already dropped points in three of their first four league matches, while other teams have started strongly.
There is also the Champions League to contend with, where Liverpool will face some of Europe’s best teams.
That’s not to say Liverpool can’t compete.
Of course they can.
But realistically, the domestic cups could offer Iraola his best opportunity to deliver silverware during his first season.
And winning a trophy would be hugely important.
It would give the new manager something tangible to show for his first campaign.
It would give the players belief in his methods.
And it could provide the foundation for something much bigger in the following seasons.
Iraola needs to find his winning team
There is another reason I’d go strong against Tottenham.
Iraola needs to learn more about his players.
The Fulham game showed that Liverpool still have plenty of questions to answer.
The midfield remains a concern.
The squad doesn’t always have enough options to change a game.
And some of the new players are still adapting to their teammates and the manager’s system.
A competitive cup tie against a strong Premier League opponent could tell Iraola far more than an easy victory against lower-league opposition.
Who handles the pressure?
Who deserves to start?
Who can change a game?
Who isn’t quite ready?
These are the sorts of questions the manager needs answered.
But there’s a balance
I’m not saying Iraola should simply pick the exact same team that started against Fulham and run his best players into the ground.
Liverpool have already experienced the problems of a congested schedule.
They played Atlético Madrid on Wednesday before facing Fulham on Saturday, just 65 hours later, and the lack of freshness was obvious. Iraola himself acknowledged the physical demands.
So there should absolutely be rotation.
But rotation doesn’t have to mean surrendering the game.
Liverpool have enough depth to make several changes while still putting out a team capable of beating Tottenham.
I’d like to see some of the younger players given opportunities alongside experienced first-team players.
That is the perfect balance.
This could be the beginning of something
Liverpool supporters have become accustomed to competing for major honours.
That’s why this season feels slightly different.
We’re watching the beginning of Iraola’s Liverpool.
There will be mistakes.
There will be frustrating performances.
There will be games like Fulham.
But that doesn’t mean the season has to drift away.
Quite the opposite.
The cups give Liverpool an opportunity to make this season memorable.
Get past Tottenham and suddenly you’re one step closer.
Then another favourable draw could open the door even further.
Before you know it, you’re in a semi-final or final.
That’s how cup football works.
I’d go for it
If Liverpool were sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four, I might have a different opinion.
But they’re not.
The league has already shown that this Liverpool team isn’t the finished product.
Iraola needs time.
He needs another transfer window.
He needs to work out his best midfield.
He needs to improve the squad.
And he needs to develop his own identity.
But he can still win something.
That’s why I’d like to see Liverpool go strong against Tottenham.
Take the competition seriously.
Get through the tie.
Build some momentum.
And give this new Liverpool era a chance to lift a trophy.
Because if we’re honest, the cups could be our best chance of success this season.
And I wouldn’t be willing to throw that opportunity away.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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