Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesA double-header against a team as talented as Brighton brings with it at any time, a serious set of challenges. When the fixtures fall together in the middle of a ridiculously busy schedule for Liverpool the difficulties become even more amplified.
Arne Slot’s mightily impressive record since being appointed manager at Anfield is being enhanced on an almost game by game basis. Even though they failed to maintain the winning momentum at the Emirates on Sunday, a point at Arsenal is always eminently acceptable. The result meant that they allowed Manchester City to take over at the top of the Premier League table. In terms of kudos, it’s always great to be at the top of the pile, but in reality it means so much more to be in that position in April and May.
If Arne Slot deserves praise for what he’s done since becoming Liverpool manager, then Fabian Hurzeler should also be lauded for how smoothly he’s fitted in as manager at Brighton. At the age of just 31 maybe we shouldn’t be surprised at just how brave and bold he is with his footballing approach. Nevertheless, the Premier League appears to hold few fears for him. Brighton currently occupy sixth place in the table, indicative of a more than decent start to the campaign.
Both managers will shuffle their footballing packs for tonight’s Carabao Cup tie at The Amex, though Arne Slot possibly not as much as he’d like to have done, given his shortage of fit and available forwards. The fashion for squad rotation in the EFL Cup in its many guises down the years would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. For those clubs involved in European football it is much more understandable, for those who aren’t it’s much less so.
Ensuring Premier League survival is uppermost in the thoughts of lots of top flight managers, but the supporters of every club in the country would relish the prospect of winning silverware at Wembley stadium. Yet a swift glance at the honours board for this competition since 2014 shows just four clubs with their names on it!
It really is a trophy that’s well worth winning.
Whatever the starting line-ups for tonight’s ‘winner takes all showdown’ it promises to be an encounter that’s well worth watching (or listening to).
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