As Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side prepare to face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, a former winner with the club says the competition can push the Reds onto further triumphs this season - just like 21 years ago.
Didi Hamann believes that winning the League Cup in 2001 was the catalyst for Gerard Houllier's side to go and complete a famous treble, picking up the FA and UEFA Cup after defeating Birmingham City in the Worthington Cup final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Ahead of Sunday's Wembley showpiece, the German midfielder has been speaking exclusively to Genting Casino, recalling what happened at the time.
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He said: "It was huge (winning the trophy). I think you have to go back to the last game of the season before, because we played Bradford away.
"If we had won we would have got in the Champions League. They needed to win to stay in the league and they beat us 1-0 – they stayed up and we missed out on the Champions League.
"I think in hindsight it was probably a blessing in disguise because I’m not sure whether we would have been ready for the Champions League playing with the best teams.
"I think the UEFA Cup was a nice steppingstone, and obviously, over Christmas we were still in all the competitions, and then at the end of February we played Birmingham at Cardiff. It was huge."
In stark contrast to the current Liverpool team, Hamann was part of a side that had been evolving under Houllier, following the departure of previous manager Roy Evans.
After missing out on Champions League qualification in the previous season, expectations were moderated until it became clear that the Reds had what it took to go deep in three cup competitions.
Hamann said: "I don’t think you can compare it with the final this year because both teams won the Champions League in the last few years, Liverpool won the League, so it’s different, but for us it was huge because it was a game that could have gone either way.
"Birmingham played ever so well and they took us to penalties. Once it goes to penalties, it’s a bit of a lottery, and fortunately we were able to score one more than they did.
"Had we not won that game I’d say we wouldn’t have won both of the other trophies. We might have won one, but I think in all likelihood we probably would have ended empty handed that season."
Liverpool's appearance in the Sunday's cup final could be far from their last this season, with The Reds advancing well in the FA Cup and having won every single one of their Champions League matches so far.
They have also closed the gap to Manchester City in the title race to just three points and still need to play the league leaders at the Etihad in what could be a Premier League decider.
When asked if he thought this Liverpool side could repeat the heroics of 2001 and win a treble or better it by winning four, Hamann fancies his former clubs chances.
He said: "Ours was called the baby treble. I would have rather won the treble they might win this season with the Champions League and the League, not the UEFA Cup, and the FA Cup.
"In the Champions League I thought Bayern Munich might have a chance, but they have two injuries now in Kimmich and Davies and they may not come back for the season. Without those two, Bayern won’t win the Champions League."
On adding the Premier League to the trophy haul, Didi believes that Liverpool are good enough to go a long unbeaten run and thinks that the club's big players are finding form at the right time.
He added: " In the League – Liverpool were so impressive against Leeds and they’ve still got to go to The Etihad. Liverpool’s record there is not the best, but I wouldn’t rule them out.
"City had a great run with 15 or 16 games unbeaten. Liverpool are good enough to do that from now till the end of the season. The way they beat Inter the other day, they didn’t really play particularly well, but they don’t concede, and they’ve got an outstanding goalkeeper.
(Virgil) van Dijk seems to be back to his best, (Ibrahima) Konate was outstanding, I just have a feeling that they will peak at the right time."
During a glittering seven-year spell at Liverpool, Hamann went on to lift nine trophies - the first being the League Cup in 2001.
