Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp claimed Thursday that it is far too early in the season to discuss his team’s chances of winning another quadruple after reaching the League Cup final.
The Premier League club had a chance to capture four trophies in a single season two years ago after defeating Chelsea — their opponents in next month’s final — at Wembley.
However, they had to settle for a domestic cup double after defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final, with the Reds barely dropping the Premier League title to Manchester City on the final day of the season and falling to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Liverpool is battling on four fronts this season, with Klopp’s side five points clear at the top of the Premier League and through to the last 16 of the Europa League as they prepare for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at home to second-tier Norwich.
“I didn’t think about it to be honest because we are far off having ‘four finals’,” Klopp said Thursday, less than 24 hours after Liverpool’s 3-2 aggregate League Cup semi-final win over Fulham.
“We have qualified for one. It makes no sense to plan the next one before you have played the first one.”
The German added: “It’s very unlikely we reach all three finals, it’s just the nature of it.”
Meanwhile, Klopp attempted to settle a potential club-versus-country feud between Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah when he returned to England from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The attacker has returned to England for treatment on a hamstring strain, giving Liverpool the best chance of having him available for the Africa Cup of Nations final, should Egypt play in Abidjan on February 11.
However, there were allegations that Klopp’s update on Salah’s fitness caused complications for Egypt officials, who intended to make a similar announcement themselves.
Klopp insisted he had not “intentionally” spoken out of turn, with both Liverpool and Egypt eager to protect Salah’s interests.
“Most people in Egypt understand the situation because we have exactly the same target as Egypt — make Mo fit as quick as possible,” he added.
“That’s all we want and that’s how it always is. If a player is injured we try everything to help him to get fit as quick as possible.
“All parties agreed that it makes sense he is doing rehab here. We have a season to play so we want him fit but if he is fit earlier then as long as Egypt is still in the tournament he will go back, that is clear. Then it’s a win-win.”