The League Cup was where it all started for Jurgen Klopp.
The competition gave the German his first win after taking charge at Liverpool, Nathaniel Clyne’s rare goal earning a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in October 2015.
And a few months later Klopp led the Reds to their debut final appearance of his tenure when his side suffered defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in the League Cup.
Since then, though, the tournament has tumbled down the list of priorities, with Liverpool going on to conquer Europe, the world and, of course, finally get their hands on the domestic championship for the first time in 30 years.
Indeed, in their last League Cup fixture, a 5-0 quarter-final defeat at Aston Villa in December, the Reds were compelled to field an Academy team when fixture organisers refused a switch to accommodate Liverpool’s FIFA Club World Cup tilt in Qatar.
For a club who have won the competition a record eight times, it was a particularly frustrating and bewildering situation.
Of course, Liverpool aren’t alone in using the League Cup for heavy rotation, although given Manchester City have won five of the last seven it’s hardly a piece of silverware readily tossed away by the leading clubs.
This season’s iteration, though, is somewhat different, with single-legged semi-finals and the first four rounds all completed before the end of the month.
As a European qualifier, Liverpool will enter in the third round stage, where they will take on the winners of Bradford City and Lincoln City on either September 22 or 23.
And with the transfer window not closing until October 5, it opens up the possibility of the League Cup being instructive in terms of Klopp’s plans for several squad members.
From Ben Woodburn, Ovie Ejaria through to Neco Williams, Harvey Elliott, Sepp van den Berg and Rhian Brewster, the competition has been used in recent years to give youth an opportunity.
But if that was about first impressions, this time the League Cup - currently sponsored by Carabao - could inform moves in the transfer market.
Klopp will for certain rotate his resources and the likes of Brewster, Van den Berg, Ki-Jana Hoever, Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliott can expect game time, along with squad players such as Divock Origi and, if fit, Xherdan Shaqiri.
Elliott, Jones and Williams have become first-team squad regulars. Van den Berg, Hoever and Brewster have not, with Liverpool yet to determine the next course of action, Brewster in particular prompting intrigue after his impressive stint on loan at Championship side Swansea City earlier in the year.
With domestic loan market open a further 11 days after the window closes, Liverpool have time before any decisions.
And the League Cup - with a possible fourth round tie taking place the week after their third-round encounter - can give fringe players and youngsters further exposure in a competitive environment.
It could give Klopp a better idea of how best to use his resources in the coming months of a hectic campaign.
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