Jamie Carragher has admitted he is “terrified” Liverpool’s growing fixture list could harm its chances of winning the Premier League title this season.
The Reds are still in the running for four trophies this season, having booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with victory over Southampton this week. Their reward for the 2-1 win is a two-legged meeting with Tottenham in the New Year, which adds to an already packed schedule.
Liverpool leads the standings in both the Premier League and Champions League, and although they look set to avoid the extra play-off round in Europe, there is so little time for Arne Slot’s side to rest at the moment. The hectic schedule has already taken its toll, with the likes of Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate and Diogo Jota all having spells out injured already this season.
And Carragher has admitted he would not have been disappointed had Liverpool been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton, with the Premier League taking precedence for him.
“For me, I know it sounds terrible. I was not too fussed if we’d have gotten knocked out by Southampton,” Carragher told the An Echo Of Glory podcast. “I really wasn’t. I’m terrified of all these cups piling up on us.
“And then you get to March 8th. That happened last season. And it happened two or three years before, under the clock of, you know, actually I knew already February, they are going for four trophies.
“And last season we ended up with one. A couple of years ago, we ended up with two, but we ended up with two that we wanted. We got beat last day of the season, Premier League, and we lost the Champions League final.
Liverpool is still in the hunt for four trophies this season under Arne Slot
Liverpool is still in the hunt for four trophies this season under Arne Slot (Image: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
“So if I’m Slot, if he wins the league, he’s a Liverpool legend, he’s done. Don’t let it worry us for the next four years or whatever our work is here. You know, if he wins the Carabao Cup, he’s not going to move the dial that much.
“It’s nice to win a trophy. But for me, I wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of the league. And I’m only saying that because of the position Liverpool find themselves in.”
“You know, a little bit of a lead, and Man City not in the race, you know, when you think you might have to get 100 points or something. So it is a great opportunity for Liverpool.”
Liverpool.com says: Let’s hope Carragher’s fears don’t come true. There was certainly a feeling on Wednesday that it wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world if Liverpool had got knocked out of the cup.
Now that they’re in the semi-finals, Slot will have to manage his squad very carefully. He will no doubt be keen on reaching a first final, and hopefully securing his first trophy at the first time of asking, but the league and Champions League are the priorities, especially given the position the Reds are in right now.