Arne Slot says Liverpool shouldn't take playing in cup finals for granted as the Dutchman targets his first piece of silverware with the club.
Liverpool face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, with the defending champions looking to win the trophy for a record 11th time.
Victory would also equal Manchester United's record for the most domestic cup trophies in English football history.
"We are really looking forward to it, playing a final again," Slot, who will be without the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, said.
"You can’t take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams involved in every cup competition. We are looking forward to being part of it. If you’re part of it, of course you want and try to win it. But that’s probably what Newcastle wants as well."
Liverpool will be looking to win the Carabao Cup for a record 11th time (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Liverpool will be looking to win the Carabao Cup for a record 11th time (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The Liverpool manager denied that Sunday's showdown is a 'bigger game' for Newcastle.
The Magpies have not won a trophy for 70 years and fronted two players, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimarães, for a press conference on Friday morning, while the topic of the final was not the main area of concern amongst the media at the AXA Training Centre.
Asked if the game is seen as more important for Eddie Howe's side, Slot said: "I don't go along with it. A final in this country is always special because there are so many strong teams in this country.
"If you reach a final, it is always a big moment for them and also for us. We have two cups but you cannot take it for granted in this country. We don't play a final every year. It is special for them but also for us."
Alongside Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool will also be without understudy right-backs Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez but Ibrahima Konate is expected to train with the squad this afternoon after feeling cramp against PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Newcastle will be missing Anthony Gordon, who is suspended following a red card against Brighton in the FA Cup, Sven Botman, who is set to undergo surgery on a knee injury, and Lewis Hall, also set to miss the rest of the season.
Alexander-Arnold will miss the cup final with an ankle injury but will return before the end of the season: (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Alexander-Arnold will miss the cup final with an ankle injury but will return before the end of the season: (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
But Slot believes both teams are relatively lucky with their amount of injuries due to the intensity of English football.
He said: "I said it two days ago, in this part of the season - in England - it is almost impossible to have all your players fit. Both teams have two, three or four players that can not play and that's almost a privilege because so many teams have had, during this season, more than two or three injuries.
"We have two or three injuries and that is minimum you can expect in a league like this after four months of non-stop football. So it is big compliment to the staff of Newcastle and our staff that so many players are available.
"Yes, Trent is a very important player for us and Anthony Gordon is a very important player for them. But the good thing for both managers is that there are still a lot of quality players available."
On Jarell Quansah, who was named in the England squad this morning for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, the manager said: "I think he showed in his recent performances that he's outgrown being called a talent.
"That's probably what Thomas Tuchel saw and sees as well by giving him a call-up. He did really well the last few times he had to play for us and even in a position he's not completely used to as a right full-back."
(Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)