If Liverpool are within their rights to head to Wembley lamenting a crippling injury crisis, the reality on the inside of the dressing room is very different.
Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Luton Town was achieved without as many as 11 first-team stars as Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah became the latest casualties for the lengthy list.
Pictures of both in their kits on Friday have at least provided supporters with a sense of optimism that the influential frontmen can feature at Wembley, but it was noticeable that training pictures were not published by either official club channels ahead of the game in the same way they typically are.
Perhaps that directive came from the top? It would be a leaf out of an old school book if Jurgen Klopp did indeed request that pictures be kept out of the public domain for fear of Chelsea getting an early insight into the Liverpool team news, but it would be accurate to reflect that those at the club have been determined to keep the Londoners guessing this week.
What is known, however, is that Klopp heads to Wembley without Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ben Doak and Stefan Bajcetic. Should Salah and Nunez be added to that for Sunday’s showpiece, the lack of options for Klopp will be glaring.
It is one thing to get by with limited numbers against a relegation-threatened Luton at Anfield but, for those of a negative predisposition, it is another prospect entirely trying to beat Chelsea in a cup final at Wembley.
For the 40,000 making the trip down to ‘Anfield South’ this weekend, however, there won’t be many whose glasses are half empty, particularly given what might just be awaiting them for the final weeks and months of Klopp’s reign.
“It is crazy because since the first day here I really felt a connection that I have not felt at any other club,” Alexis Mac Allister reveals. “At the other clubs it was more about the time it took to settle. Here, from the first day, the people here helped me settle in very well.
“I really feel a connection with the fans and the club and I really like it here. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I really enjoy being here. The most exciting part of it is we want to win trophies. Sunday is an opportunity to start the [end of the] season in a good way. Hopefully I will spend many years here.
“[Winning a trophy] gives you a boost. It gives you confidence. It would be very important for what we want. We are really focused on winning the game but know there is a long way to go this season.”
For Virgil van Dijk, he too is not concerned with the litany of team-mates he will take the pitch without at the weekend. The Netherlands skipper will captain Liverpool for the first time in a major cup final and he speaks enthusiastically about making it “an amazing afternoon” in the capital, backing those stepping in for the walking wounded to make their mark.
Van Dijk says: “The most important thing is to try and win the game, and then we’ll see what happens after. I try to lead out the boys as good as possible, on and off the pitch, be their leader and so far, so good.
“I visualise myself leading the boys out, but I don’t think about me lifting anything. So I’m thinking about a big challenge ahead of us. Hopefully we can make it an amazing afternoon on Sunday.”
“Everyone has to step up, younger players as well, and everyone has to take responsibility. They also have to enjoy that. I think everyone wants to get the opportunity and show themselves, and they have to be confident. I’m not worried about that.
“They just have to go out there, show your qualities, we all play for Liverpool. I think if you play for Liverpool, you’re quite a good player already, so go out there and make everyone proud.”
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is the most pronounced example of doing just that. It was two years ago against the same opposition when the Irishman stepped in for Alisson at Wembley.
Having kept goal through the earlier rounds, Klopp kept his promise to Kelleher by selecting him ahead of the peerless Alisson for the final and the manager’s faith was rewarded in sensational style when the keeper smashed home the decisive penalty in the shootout to earn himself a portrait on the goalkeepers’ mural at the AXA Centre that seeks to recognise those whose efforts have brought silverware to the club.
“To be fair, I was just in the moment,” Kelleher claims. “I didn’t even realise it was my go and I looked at the lads and they were pointing at me. I didn’t have much to think so I just ended up smashing it in.
“I have great memories from the cup. I think the clear thing will be the penalty, that is a really nice moment. Then after Chelsea missed their penalty was our celebration with the fans and the team.
“It was a special moment and one I’ll never forget and hopefully we can recreate something similar on Sunday. It was a good experience to look back on but I’m just trying to focus on getting good results.
“[An extended run] can only help having a run of games as it gets you in a good rhythm and it fills me with confidence playing week in, week out. It’s good for me as I can get that rhythm and that relationship with the team. It can only help.”
