League Cup Trophy a Part of Final Chapter with Liverpool, Says Klopp

Liverpool's manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town FC, in Liverpool, Britain, 21 February 2024. (EPA)
Liverpool's manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town FC, in Liverpool, Britain, 21 February 2024. (EPA)
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League Cup Trophy a Part of Final Chapter with Liverpool, Says Klopp

Liverpool's manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town FC, in Liverpool, Britain, 21 February 2024. (EPA)
Liverpool's manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town FC, in Liverpool, Britain, 21 February 2024. (EPA)

Winning the League Cup would be a crucial addition to the final segment of a memoir with Liverpool, the soon-to-depart manager Juergen Klopp said before his side's final match against Chelsea.

Klopp has announced his decision to step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, citing dwindling energy levels.

The 56-year-old, who is the only Liverpool manager to win six different major trophies, would dedicate the victory to everyone connected to the Merseyside club as part of his trophy-laden nine-year epoch.

"I want to win on Sunday but not for me or my trophy cabinet," Klopp said of the League Cup final. "It is for the boys, for the club, for the people. That is much more important.

"We wrote, and we are still writing, a wonderful book, and when I leave we close that book and put it on the shelf and then someone else will write a wonderful book.

"Yes, there is space for some chapters. It is long. I am not there and writing the resume already? Not at all. I am 100% in trying to create a few special memories on top of what we have done."

Klopp's side have a lengthy injury list that could hinder their chances of securing a record-extending 10th League Cup triumph at Wembley, with the likes of Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson and Curtis Jones sidelined and forwards Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai doubtful for Sunday.

Liverpool's most recent triumph came in the 2021-22 campaign when they also lifted the FA Cup, and narrowly missed securing a treble as they finished second in the Premier League.



The Camera Never Lies: Electronic Line Calls in Focus Again as Zverev Takes Photo of Ball Mark 

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
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The Camera Never Lies: Electronic Line Calls in Focus Again as Zverev Takes Photo of Ball Mark 

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)

Alexander Zverev is convinced there was a defect in the electronic line calling system during his Madrid Open win on Sunday after the German risked a hefty fine by pulling out his phone to take a photograph of a contested call.

The top seed overcame Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 2-6 7-6(3) 7-6(0) to reach the last 16 of the claycourt tournament but was frustrated by an incident in the second set when a backhand from his opponent was called in by the tracking technology.

Zverev appealed to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to take a look but was rebuffed, and the world number two was then warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after pulling his phone out of his bag and taking a picture of the spot.

"I honestly think there was a defect in the system. There was a mistake in the system in that moment," said Zverev, who later posted the photo on Instagram.

"It's not like one millimeter in, one millimeter out, it was like four-five centimeters. That's why I went to the umpire and said 'Please, come down to have a look at this, I'm not crazy'."

Reuters has contacted the ATP for comment.

Earlier this month, women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka also took a photo of a disputed ball mark during a match in Stuttgart and was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The ATP has adopted the line calling system for all of its tournaments from this year, and while Zverev said he was a fan of the technology he was shocked by the incident in Madrid.

"It's going to be interesting to see what happens now, what kind of fine I'll get, even though I'm right," he said.

"I hope I don't get a fine, because obviously, in my opinion, I'm completely in the right and I should not get fined for this."