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.



Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
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Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman

Zheng Qinwen finally got her first win over Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh attempt to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday and the Olympic champion said she had perhaps shown the world number one too much respect in their prior meetings.

The Chinese 22-year-old had gone down tamely in all but one of her previous six encounters with Sabalenka, including in the 2024 Australian Open final, but she delivered a clinical 6-4 6-3 win over the off-color Belarusian in Rome.

The win will come as a huge boost for Zheng as she continues her preparations for the French Open, which begins on May 25.

"The few times I faced her in the beginning, I gave her too much respect," Zheng told reporters, according to Reuters.

"I didn't face her like a normal player. I remember I was going to see her in the 2017 China Open ... My father was saying 'Oh, you need to learn about her forehand, her backhand'.

"I think this kind of respect, it takes a while to treat her like a normal player."

Sabalenka had been on a nine-match winning streak on clay but Zheng said she was in her comfort zone on the surface.

"This is the first time we've played on clay," she said.

"I guess when I play on clay, I'm more comfortable because I've got great experience on clay.

"I was more patient. I'm happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the world number one."

Zheng plays world number three Coco Gauff for a place in the final.