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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sean Bradbury & Richard Garnett

Liverpool trophy priority is clear as one cup stands out in quadruple quest

Liverpool stand on the cusp of the most remarkable season in the club's history.

The Carabao Cup secured, an FA Cup final booked - with strong chances in Europe and the league too. An unprecedented quadruple could still be on the cards.

Manchester City are a likely obstacle on both fronts, leading the way in the Premier League and taking an advantage to Real Madrid for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final after last night's 4-3 win.

READ MORE: FSG behind the scenes move gives Liverpool best chance of keeping Mohamed Salah

READ MORE: Klopp 'need' clear as Liverpool seek end to shock Champions League run against Villarreal

With all of that in mind, is there one competition the Reds would crave above the others from here?

Rich Garnett and Sean Bradbury have their say...

'Premier League and a proper celebration'

Rich: Before Christmas, Liverpool's prospects of landing a major trophy quadruple would have seemed laughable, yet here we are on April 27 with the Carabao Cup won, an FA Cup final appearance secured and involvement in both the Premier League title race and the Champions League still very much alive. A quite unbelievable achievement.

But if we're talking about which of these trophies is the most important, for me there can be only one answer. "This is our bread and butter. This is the one that we want," said legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.

He was of course talking about the league title. That famous quote may be many decades old but it still resonates with Liverpool supporters today, including this one.

But if the prospect of the Reds equalling Manchester United's record of 20 English top flight league titles is a great source of motivation, then it is only half the story of why the Premier League matters most. When Jurgen Klopp ended Liverpool's 30-year wait to once again be crowned English champions it was concluded behind closed doors.

No celebration with the fans, no bus parade, no mass out-pouring of joy. Liverpool and their supporters were robbed of that moment by a global health pandemic.

That wrong needs to be addressed and the only way to do it is by winning the Premier League again. Klopp is already one of Liverpool's all-time greatest managers, equalling the Champions League wins of his predecessors, bar Bob Paisley, but for the sake of his deserved legacy, the German needs more league titles to accurately reflect the brilliant job that he has done.

The European Cup is a love affair for Liverpool, but in England at least, the Reds are already the kings of that competition. Now they must retake their rightful place as the champions of England and sit proudly back on the perch that Sir Alex Ferguson spent so long trying to knock them off.

'Champions League can bring extra benefits'

Sean: Inside the Liverpool dressing room, the talk will be about taking each game as it comes.

Jurgen Klopp has made it clear the Reds have been rightly regarding every single fixture as a final for weeks, if not months, already. In that sense it is tough to separate any competition now. The stakes are high wherever you look.

But while the league offers vital 'bread and butter' - does anything taste as sweet as a European triumph?

Liverpool have a good opportunity to pull clear of Bayern Munich and match AC Milan on seven trophies.

Bookies believe the European Cup is much more 'winnable' than the league for the Reds from here. There is a clear logic to that, given less fixtures stand in Liverpool's way and the tournament remains in their hands.

Pushing hard for continental success may also bring additional domestic benefits.

Liverpool's first leg victory in Benfica gave them the breathing room that assisted with the remarkable run witnessed since - including a draw at City, an FA Cup semi-final victory, plus six points and six goals at the expense of Manchester United and Everton.

From the City perspective, the more punishing ties against Atletico Madrid took it out of them. Pep Guardiola's men missed the chance to put the league to bed at the Etihad against Klopp and co, before being blown away in the first half at Wembley.

Liverpool still have plenty of work to do against Villarreal to book their place in the final.

But whether it may be revenge against Real Madrid for 2018 or denying City their first Champions League title as an extra sweetener, Reds fans will be desperate for glory.

And with contract negotiations ongoing with several stars - what better way for Liverpool to prove this is the place to live your dreams as a player than by lifting the greatest cup of them all once again in Paris?

*Where do you stand on the debate? Have your say in the comments section below...

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