Regular trips to Wembley for Liverpool fans could be a thing of the past after manager Jurgen Klopp has been told to downgrade the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Anfield’s owners believe that a hectic schedule, which this season includes the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Club Cup, has no room for a concerted challenge on the two domestic trophies.
The USA based Fenway Group are desperate for Liverpool to win their first League title for 30 years, as well as attempting to retain the Champions League trophy.
Liverpool have won the FA Cup seven times and the League Cup in its different guises a record eight times. It will now prove difficult to add to that haul as Klopp will concentrate on giving fringe members of his squad valuable playing time while affording some of his big stars a rest.
Last season, Klopp was criticised in some quarters for starting with a weakened team in the FA Cup third-round defeat at Wolves .
Youngsters Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones were handed debuts, with the normal striking trio of Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane named as substitutes.
That is now certain to be repeated – which is another blow to the prestige of both competitions and bad news for the sponsors.
It is also not what many former players want to hear. One told Sunday Mirror Sport: “The fans love a trip to Wembley. For that opportunity to be probably taken away is very sad.
“We understand the desire to win the league and do well again in the Champions League, but surely these days the squads are big enough to cope with the FA Cup and League Cup as well?”
