Liverpool preparations for the Carabao Cup final are in full flow.
The Reds travel to Wembley on Sunday to take on Newcastle for the first major trophy on offer in England and will be looking to add to their record tally of 10 in the competition.
Arne Slot’s men will need to pick themselves up after going out of the Champions League on Tuesday and Paul Merson believes Liverpool’s defeat has handed Newcastle an advantage.
The Sky Sports pundit will not be the only one who feels this way, but Liverpool fans know Slot will make sure he has his team ready to compete.
The Carabao Cup final will be the Dutch coach’s first time at Wembley but the former Feyenoord boss remembers last year’s EFL Cup final.
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Arne Slot texted Pepijn Lijnders after Liverpool won the 2024 Carabao Cup
Klopp labelled Liverpool’s 2024 Carabao Cup success as “one of the most special games” he has ever been involved in due to the circumstances in which they beat Chelsea.
The Reds had several injury problems heading into the Wembley showpiece and in the end, relied on their youngsters to get them over the line.
Dominik Szoboszlai recalls what he told Darwin Nunez before Virgil van Dijk headed in the winner and there are many stories from different characters on how much that day meant to them.
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For Pep Lijnders, that day meant has much to him as anyone due to his involvement in bringing through young players at Liverpool.
Speaking to Liverpool.com ahead of the 2025 Carabao Cup final, Slot has shared that he texted the former Reds coach after their victory over Chelsea as he knew how much that win meant to him.
“We played that day, I remember,” Slot said. “I think the game was played a bit later than when we played at that moment, so maybe I saw the last part of it, or I saw some highlights.
“I do remember texting Pepijn (Lijnders) afterwards, because I knew how much the academy meant, and still means for him and for the whole club, but definitely also for him.
“It was a big moment that all these academy players were on the pitch winning a final. So I do remember texting him after that game. And yeah, it was a special day for the club, as it’s always a special day if you play a final.”
Arne Slot expects Liverpool to bounce back from PSG defeat
Liverpool’s defeat to PSG on Tuesday could potentially affect the Reds during their Carabao Cup final clash with Newcastle as the Merseyside club were dragged to penalties and were clearly tired towards the end of extra time.
In addition to the physical aspect, the players were likely to be mentally deflated after being eliminated from the Champions League but Slot expects his team to bounce back on Sunday.
When asked if the Carabao Cup final is the perfect match to respond to their PSG defeat, Slot said: “Yeah, it’s maybe the perfect game.
“I think our nine games in the league are going to be finals as well so if we had to play for the league on Sunday, I think we would have been up for it also.
“But yeah, it’s always nice to play for a trophy. It’s always nice to win something, although it’s nine finals in the Premier League.”
Slot knows he has a tough task on his hands over the coming days as he has to make sure his team are fully prepared as they get ready to take on a strong Newcastle side.